By Khanyisile Tshandu – Worcester Gymnasium, Gr 11
With technological advances and its techno-savvy spin-offs artificial intelligence (AI) is taking off like a meteor. It has revolutionised our daily lives and introduced us to a multi-faceted world we never knew we needed.
Like a double-edged sword AI holds unmatched treasures while also posing immense peril. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this technological colossus.
AI’s silver lining is that it makes our lives more convenient and it holds advantages that include:
– Increased efficiency and productivity – AI can turn a complex task into a piece of cake and allows us to do more in shorter periods.
– Improved accuracy and decision-making – AI reduces errors in data analysis and other tasks, although the information provided by AI cannot always be trusted.
– Innovation and growth – AI constantly brings new ideas to the public.
The dark side of AI showcases its disadvantages such as:
– Reduced jobs for humans – As AI continues to develop the biggest issue we could face is that it could take over the workforce, leaving many people unemployed.
– Ethical issues – AI raises concerns around user privacy and surveillance.
– Security risks – AI systems are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches.
– Dependence on data – AI requires top-level data, which can be extremely difficult to uphold and maintain.
– Bias and discrimination – AI can inherit biased views and opinions from human programmers.
AI is a relatively powerful tool that requires responsible use. Being the double-edged sword it is, it’s up to us to wield it with caution by using it carefully.
