Can the risks of artificial intelligence be controlled?

It wasn’t so long ago that artificial intelligence — the augmentation of human actions and thinking by machines — seemed far off. Today, it’s here. Submit a mortgage application, for example, and the chances are good that some sort of machine capabilities will be involved in the analysis of your file.

In fact, let’s face it: machines (or “robots” as they are sometimes called) are better than humans at many kinds of things — processing millions of transactions without error, for example.

But, according to Craig Mindrum, a writer and consultant who has extensively commented on the human impacts of technology within organizations and across the world, threat lurks behind every artificial intelligence development. While many scientists are excited about progress in this field, some of the brightest minds in the world are very concerned about what the future holds for us with the relentless encroachment on human work and purpose as the development of AI acclerates. Some studies indicate that, in only about 20 years, intelligent agents and robots could eliminate as much as 30 percent of the workforce.

As Mindrum asks, “What will be the impact on jobs? On my most hopeful days, I feel that, one way or another, we will adapt. But what if it’s catastrophic, or nearly so? What are people actually going to ‘do’ in the future?”

Can companies restrain themselves in the name of “ethical” or “responsible” AI? Mindrum thinks this is doubtful. The economic impulse to grow and dominate in technology is effectively irresistible — achieving scale is organic to the domain (and relatively easy), and good behavior depends totally on the motives, incentives and decisions of executives and owners.

We are experiencing a typical pattern with new technology (which tends to be seven or so years ahead of society, government and business) catching up with its downsides and needing to be regulated. Add in the growing backlash on social responsibility and AI — which can be seen in many government committee reports, some legislation, and widespread publications by scientists, AI experts, and interested bodies — and you have accumulating pressure on corporations.

Whether one is hopeful or not, AI is here, and its influence will only get more pervasive.