Any new innovation that can affect our lives in revolutionary ways is often met with a great deal of scepticism and, to some extent, fear.

When the Internet was born there were those who prophesied the end of human civilisation as we know it. Those of a more religious and superstitious disposition saw it as the end of the world. Even today, Bill Gates, who can be considered as the premier architect and innovator of placing the Internet within the grasp of any human being that would want to own a personal computer, is today ridiculed and vilified by certain conspiracy theorists who view him as an evil to mankind. His perceived role in the creation of COVID-19 vaccines is the butt of conspiracy theorists to this day.

These reactions are, understandably, at the extreme ends of ignorant reactions to innovation. They nonetheless underscore the suspicions and scepticisms that lurk in the minds of people, even some you would consider intelligent, with regard to developments that can have far-reaching consequences for all of us living on this planet.

For some, artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest threat to humanity. Out of ignorance we often say the most outrageous things about subjects that we know nothing about. Instead of educating themselves on these subjects, the tendency of far too many people is to go with the crowd, which often ends up in a pit of deeper ignorance, if not arrogance.

I have seen over the years that people with religious dispositions tend to be the ones who become more arrogant in their assertions about what they do not know. They believe that their belief in God gives them a divine right to be right at all times and they have to defend God — as if he needs a lawyer.

Like all new innovations, AI has to be carefully investigated and properly curated to meet the needs of humankind. Even the creators themselves gawk at its awesome possibilities, both for ill and good. My concern is that the development is going at a speed which hardly allows any regulation or guardrails to be put in place to ensure the technology really works well for the betterment of humanity. The major world powers, like the United States and China, seem to be in a desperate hurry to outdo each other in deploying this technology. What is not being talked about is how to regulate it so that its worst excesses can be mitigated and we do not create a Frankenstinian which no one can control.

It is believed by some creators that generative AI, which not only analyses data but creates new content, ought to be subject to greater transparency than is now the case. Generative AI does not just mimic and collate existing data, but actively creates its own data. And there’s the rub. Data can be manipulated for evil ends to spread misinformation and create deepfakes of people’s identity. It may also pose security risks and promote cyber warfare. There is the need for transparency and regulation to mitigate these concerns.

To the best of my knowledge there is not a great deal of thinking, much less action, taking place in this regard. The poor relationship between the United States and China, exacerbated by their tariff wars, serve as a grave distraction which does not provide any room for consultation on these matters. Might is right, so each side proceeds with its own agenda oblivious of the danger before them and the world. This is particularly true of the United States under President Donald Trump, who believes that what he says is gospel. At a time when we need well-thought-out approaches to serious problems, such as setting up guardrails for AI technology, we have someone in the White House whose impulsivity and transactional approach to grave problems can only be an impediment to the progress we seek.

This is where AI technology gives me concern. No one has to be worried about the good that the technology can provide in the revolution in medicine and so many areas of human endeavour. It is just a tool to be used judiciously. My preferred tool is Microsoft’s copilot. Before I tuned into AI in any serious way, I was concerned about what it could do to human creativity and morality in student research and outcomes. Should one outsource one’s brain to a machine? But, for me, the experience so far has been illuminating and wonderfully liberating. By putting my copilot to work I can instantly have more data and information in a few seconds than I would have using Bing, Google, or any other search engine. With its assistance — and it is still an it — you are able to collate and synthesise material in a way that is time-saving, leading to greater productivity on your part.

If you lose touch with your creativity, it is because you want to cheat by relying on the machine to do your work for you. One has to approach AI with a sense of personal integrity. Approaching AI with a strong moral sense is to me the best guarantee of good outcomes in using the technology. The key is to use the information provided to enhance your own thinking and creativity. Again, it is what you do with the tool at your disposal.

Of one thing I am sure: AI is here to stay. Properly regulated, it can be a boon to humankind. And, contrary to religious dogmatism, it is not a signal that the world is coming to an end anytime soon.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storms; Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. He hosts a podcast — Mango Tree Dialogues — on his YouTube channel. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.

Raulston Nembhard