'My Journey, Your Maps': Navigating the near future!

When I was researching for the book My Journey, Your Maps, it became evident quite early that rapid changes are afoot and inevitable. But having lived in a period when computers and mobile and social media first made an advent in our lives, we know that it is very easy to overlook the disruptive potential of big changes. Changes afoot? So what?

There is a reason why the changes matter. The ones who anticipate and adapt to changes will be the winners in the sweepstakes of life. It is not a fluke that US and China dominate the world today. They not only anticipate change; they invest in it and precipitate it. They use the change for their advantage.

What I could also gather in my research was that India is, by and large, unaware of the potential of Artificial Intelligence and is smug about it. The growing power of big AI companies is not only a threat to the sovereignty of nations, it will inevitably create a neo colonial world in a very near future. 150 crore Indians have a vital stake in the AI story.

In a world where technology advances at lightning speed, understanding and adapting to these changes can feel like a daunting journey. ‘My Journey, Your Maps’ offers a roadmap for navigating personal and sociallandscape of artificial intelligence. 

In its very primitive stage, AI is being used in healthcare to predict patient outcomes and personalize treatment plans. It is revolutionizing education through personalized learning experiences and is even making our daily lives easier with smart assistants like Siri and Alexa. It is being used to run self-driving cars and drone bombers in Ukraine. But the real power of the AI is only slowly being unlocked, with the potential ultimate goal of creating a sentient, or conscious, super-intelligent system.

The book presents the various scenarios in which the developments can evolve and highlights the significance of collaboration in navigating this landscape. Just as the journey is not a solitary one, but one where we can learn from others, the development of AI is also a collaborative effort. Researchers, engineers, and users all play a role in shaping how AI evolves and is applied. They have to work together for creating effective and ethical solutions to the challenges that this technology will throw up. For instance, developing AI systems that are fair and unbiased requires input from diverse groups of people. By working together, we can ensure that AI technologies benefit everyone and address various perspectives and needs.

AI is a fast-moving field with new developments emerging almost daily. To stay relevant and make the most of AI advancements, it's important to continually update our skills and knowledge – both individually and as a society. Whether it’s understanding the basics of machine learning, exploring new AI tools, or learning about ethical considerations, staying informed helps us make better decisions and adapt to changes effectively.

AI has the potential to bring about significant positive changes, but it also raises ethical concerns. Issues such as privacy, security, and bias need to be addressed carefully. For example, AI systems used in hiring processes must be designed to avoid discrimination. As we continue to develop and implement AI technologies, it’s our responsibility to ensure they are used in ways that are fair and just.

Delving into details of the arguments and evidence presented in the book, or to explain the possible simulacra that an AI system will create, will take away the pleasure of reading the book. I will conclude with a quote from the last page of the book itself: 

“First and foremost, without underestimating the might of the AI system – and that includes the corporations that control them or are embedded with them – we must map out their potential weaknesses and blind spots. Similarly, we must cultivate humility and pragmatism when analyzing the risks of superintelligence, dispassionately modeling its failure modes and existential pitfalls without resorting to either hubristic dismissal or paralytic anxiety.  

We will have to remember the battlefield discipline and adherence to well-defined protocols. To control superintelligent AI's immense capabilities, human overseers must resist the urge to deviate from pre-established checks and fail-safes no matter how advanced these systems become or how confidently they demand greater autonomy.”

‘My journey, your maps: Navigating the age of AI’ can be bought from the following link: https://amzn.in/d/dH0ZiWu

Abhishek Dayal

Abhishek Dayal is a serving civil servant and a communication professional professor for last 27 years. His earlier books are “20th Century Mass Communication Theories in the Age of Social Media” and “Deep Waters:  A Survivor’s guide to Office”

(डिस्क्लेमर : इस लेख में व्यक्त विचार लेखक के स्वयं के हैं। रागदिल्ली.कॉम के संपादकीय मंडल का इन विचारों से कोई लेना-देना नहीं है।)