Scientists warn that AI could leave humans unable to make decisions without robots

A report by the Pew research has sent out a stark warning, as the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the mainstream becomes more and more apparent.

In a paper called The Future of Human Agency, experts surveyed stated ‘that while powerful corporate and government authorities will expand the role of AI in people’s daily lives in useful ways’, there was also a fear that ‘systems will diminish individuals’ ability to control their choices’.

The ability of AI is expect to speed up between now and 2035, as the consensus denotes.

The research involved 540 experts answering various, very specific questions.

“As individuals more deeply embrace these technologies to augment, improve and streamline their lives, they are continuously invited to outsource more decision-making and personal autonomy to digital tools,” said the research.

“Some analysts have concerns about how business, government and social systems are becoming more automated.

“They fear humans are losing the ability to exercise judgment and make decisions independent of these systems.”

Some already feel that AI has taken away human agency already.

The Undivided Podcast, hosted by Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, has said that the relationship between humans, and what some call chatbots is not correct. They call it a synthetic relationship.

“It’s not that it’s a chatbot, it’s a new entity with which you’re going to be forming a relationship.” Raskin says.

Already AI with language models have been shown to change or at least change people’s emotions, beliefs and so forth.

It’s an interesting world we are creating. It is a structural revolution. We could be setting ourselves for a new generation of greatness, coupled with harm.

As Norbert Wiener said 63 years ago, “If we want to live with the machine, we must understand the machine. We must not worship the machine.”