In November 2021, I began having problems with my left knee; I first noticed it when I joined my family and their friends in “The Italian Ring Dance” at my niece’s wedding. After dancing the first rotation, my knee just wasn’t making it.
Fast forward to December 2023 when I underwent knee replacement surgery. Prior to surgery, I was informed that the procedure would be performed in part by robotics, a.k.a. the computer, or as it is popularly known today, AI.
I knew that I had the best surgeon and staff attending to me, but the robotics aspect of the procedure gave me no little anxiety. When I went for my pre-op and my entire leg was scanned, however, I began to better understand what the robotics portion would be doing. After my surgery – during my rehab sessions – my therapists reinforced how much better the robotics helped patients with knee replacements have better outcomes.
Such progress perfectly aligns with the physician’s maxim to “do no harm.” And what more could we add, besides developments in medicine, to the list of technologies which enhance and bring us a better quality of life? There are innumerable ways – more than can be listed here, including dangerous jobs – where AI actually saves life and limb.
Without a doubt, these types of AI are definitely a friend to mankind. At the same time, I’m very troubled with other aspects and proposed uses for AI. It’s understandable that the United States seeks to be the world leader in AI and all things technology … but shouldn’t we be aware of the pitfalls, even the dangers, of technology and AI?
Already, in the field of architecture alone, my former principal employment, great emphasis was, and still is, laid upon mastery of the computer. But that contributes to the great decline in students knowing how to draw, since “the computer does it all” now. Yes, computer-generated architecture is considered cutting edge in education and professional practice. But hand-drawing is the very heart of architecture and is how architects learn to create – as they combine their mental and motor skills to draw.
Sadly, today’s students are going through their professional education, career, and life being denied the higher and better instruction through drawing to learn about buildings and how they are built. The architecture student is, unknowingly, being robbed by technology in this environment – robbed of the opportunity to learn invaluable life-long skills which will make him/her a better architect and more fully-developed person, both personally and professionally.
Just how long will it be before the architectural graduate is replaced with the ultimate form of artificial intelligence? Just take a look around – it is already happening. Driverless vehicles have now become reality, so what would keep other occupations from being replaced? Could it be that a plausibly-deniable goal of AI is to displace the human being from the workforce en masse?
And why not? After all, AI is always on time, doing it’s work with precision and perfection, and doesn’t object to overtime, working conditions, or getting yelled at. It also doesn’t require a salary, leave time, benefits, or retirement – and it’s easy to replace once its time comes to be recycled. With a growing AI workforce, corporations can make more money without the hassle of having real people. And of course, AI can’t sue you in a court of law. By employing AI, there’s less headache and more money.
And what of the human being? Can’t you just hear that familiar refrain? “Well, this was a business decision, and we wish you the best in your search for other employment.”
It is reasonable to conclude that AI will naturally diminish/do away with certain jobs in a local, regional, national, or even international economy. But when the intention of AI becomes one of replacing human personnel with robotic substitutes in the workplace, AI can no longer be a friend – it is indeed a foe.
AI is a tool which can be used for either good or evil. Awareness of this fact means that AI bears constant watching and requires everyone to practice independent critical thinking in making determinations about whether a technology is either good and useful, or harmful and dangerous for the individual and greater society.
Granted, not all AI technology is bad, especially if it enhances your job and makes it easier. Nonetheless, the only way that harmful or dangerous technologies will succeed is when people stop thinking critically about them – and don’t object to them when it is necessary to do so … or before it is too late.
Thomas Kaufmann writes from Montgomery, and may be contacted at [email protected].
The republication of this culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
