AI versus Humanity a Two-edged Sword?

Abstract

This opinion article considers artificial intelligence and technology as a two-edged sword for humanity. It begins with concerns that AI can be used for systematic leveraging, manipulation and control, for example by shaping public opinion or controlling access to information, and refers to reports warning about humanity's ability to control AI and about biases in AI mental-health chatbots. The author then discusses the effects of technology on development, arguing that career-oriented education and adolescents' preoccupation with screens may compromise neural connections, and that parents absorbed in their phones deprive children of eye contact and interaction, while also noting research suggesting that excessive parental involvement can hinder children's self-regulation. The benefits of technology, such as safety, cost savings and international connection, are acknowledged alongside the risk of over-reliance. Further sections address the loss of control over skills and critical thinking, the shift to multiple-choice examinations and declining literacy, illustrated by a personal anecdote, the impact of technology on mental well-being, the growing complexity of living and the difficulty of controlling complex systems. The article concludes that AI could raise humanity to new heights of achievement and creativity but also carries the potential for destruction, so its dual nature must be recognised and strategies developed to harness its benefits while mitigating its risks.

Abstract prepared by the editorial office from the full text of the article; the authors did not supply one.