Dear Editor,

In a recent conversation with a senior female medical technologist, I was made aware that young medical professionals appear to have little to no knowledge of their area of specialty and rely solely on artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots for obvious anatomy answers. In her complaint, she blames the advancement of AI and fears the impact it might have on medical professionals’ inability to address basic health issues in the next 10 years. She says our lives are at risk.

In basic understanding, AI is the development of computer systems enabled to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This growing development has increased efficiency and improved decision-making in almost every area of professionalism. But like every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and the disadvantages are bias and lack of transparency in delivering data as well as major job displacement. While it may appear the advancements of AI only lead to ethical dilemmas, I believe it has a place in society for good outcomes, but the developments should be managed in a way that fosters responsible usage.

One beneficial feature of AI is its increased efficiency. AI has the ability to automate repetitive and mundane tasks, allowing human resources extra time to plan strategic and creative work. For example, many universities are using AI-powered chatbots to handle some student inquiries. This reduces long response times and improves customer satisfaction.

As humans, we sometimes take a lot of time to analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns and provide insights for decision-making. But AI has a way of ridding us of this hard task by helping us make accurate decisions after scanning inputed data. AI-powered predictive analytics can help businesses forecast sales, optimise inventory, and identify new opportunities. This data-driven decision-making improves forecasting and enhances business outcomes.

AI, however, has its disadvantages. For example, it is biased and lacks transparency. AI systems can perpetuate and amplify existing biases if trained on biased data, leading to unfair outcomes. For example, research shows that AI-powered facial recognition systems have been shown to have higher error rates for people of colour. The potential impact of this leads to discriminatory outcomes and erosion of trust in AI systems.

Another disadvantage is job displacement. AI automation can lead to significant job displacement, particularly in sectors in which tasks are repetitive or can be easily automated. Manufacturing and customer service jobs may be replaced by AI-powered machines and chatbots. This will cause widespread job loss and potential economic disruption.

To ensure the responsible guidance of AI development, I recommend these five points:

•Establish clear guidelines and regulations

•Prioritise transparency

•Foster diversity and inclusion

•Invest in AI education and research

•Encourage public engagement and debates

AI demonstrates the power to drive the economy and its resources to a new level. By prioritising responsible AI development we can harness great benefits while minimising risks.

Alexious Gonzales

Languages and linguistics professional

alexiousgonzales6@gmail.com