Should we fear AI? – Quiz

1.  Read the text and answer the questions. 

1. What have over a 1,000 technology experts demanded in a letter they signed?

A letter signed by more than 1,000 technology experts have called on the world  to press pause on the development of more advanced AI because of the risks.

2. Who said the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs would be replaced by AI?

A report by investment bank Goldman Sachs said AI could replace the  equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.

3. What AI technology has been helping some students to write their assignments?

ChatGPT has been helping some students write assignments.

4. True or false? Advocates of AI say that AI will outsmart us.

False. AI advocates say the tech is already delivering real social and economic  benefits for people.

5. Who has Bill Gates asked to work together to “limit the risk” of AI development?

Bill Gates has asked governments to work with industry to “limit the risks” of  AI.

2.  Choose the appropriate words or phrases to complete the following sentences.

1. Our funding has run out, so we need to press pause on the project.

2. The online chatbot dealt with my query when the bank was shut.

3. I bought a state-of-the-art smartphone but it’s too complicated for me to use!

4. He was the brightest boy in the school and always got top grades in his exams.

5. The airline claims to be using one of the most advanced aircraft which emits less greenhouse gas than older aircraft. 

Should we fear AI?

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence – or AI – has become an important part of our lives. It is no longer just a thing of science fiction: it’s an incredible technological breakthrough that has changed the way we live. But there are fears that AI has become too intelligent and could be a threat to humanity.

This claim might sound extreme, but a letter signed by more than 1,000 technology experts, including Tesla boss Elon Musk, called on the world to press pause on the development of more advanced AI because of the risks. Estonian billionaire Jaan Tallinn, for example, who helped develop communication app Skype, thinks we should be cautious. And The Future of Life Institute, a not-for-profit organisation, says that there should be a temporary pause in advanced AI development, saying that “AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity.”

This pessimistic outlook is supported by a report by investment bank Goldman Sachs that says AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. But it may also mean new jobs and a productivity boom. We may argue that AI such as chatbots can help us. State-of-the-art ChatGPT, for example, has been helping some students write assignments. AI is allowing computers to think or act in a more human way. And machine learning means computers can learn what to do without being given explicit instructions. The technology is impressive, but as it starts to think for itself, will it outsmart us?

Some people are more optimistic. AI advocates say the tech is already delivering real social and economic benefits for people. Meanwhile, the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has called on governments to work with industry to “limit the risks” of AI. But he says the technology could save lives, particularly in poorer countries. He says, “Just as the world needs its brightest people focused on its biggest problems, we will need to focus the world’s best AIs on its biggest problems.” If this happens, maybe humanity will have a future.