The term “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” began at the Dartmouth Conferences hosted by John McCarthy in 1956. Since the development of computer was slower than expectations, the field about artificial intelligence, which was expected to grow rapidly, was only the imaginary future shown in contents such as movies and animations until the early 2010s. However, development of computer and network after mid-2010s could combine various technology, from AI, big data to Internet of Things (IoT), drone, and Virtual Reality (VR) Blockchain, with reality.
Nowadays, AI based on big data is seeping into our daily life. Advertisements placed on social media such as Instagram and YouTube are learning viewer’s preferences and they are now providing customized contents to the individuals. Furthermore, social commerce and online shopping malls are leading the market change by stockpiling in logistics centers, which was possible due to the predictions on people’s purchasing tendencies in advance, and constructing a system that delivers fresh food ingredients the day after ordering.
Not only in the economic field, in Korea, singers who only release their albums which is composed by artificial intelligence have appeared. Moreover, broadcasting programs that reproduce the voices of the deceased, by learning them, have been introduces. Services and systems based on AI have begun to appear in various fields day by day.
The advent of new technology has changed people’s lives by 180 degrees. Invention of steam engines and electricity, which has caused numerous changes in people’s life patterns is one of its example. Computers and the internet have also made so many changes that it is impossible to imagine when it did not exist. It is literally revolution.
New technologies that emerge from the Industrial Revolution, as always, give people convenience, but on the contrary, they also increase the occurrence of various problems such as people who abuse these technologies. Were there only good things about the development of computers and the Internet when considering the near past? There will be too much content if we list every problematic circumstances and examples such as phishing, smishing, witch-hunting based on anonymity, comment manipulation, and fake news. Likewise, various new technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, like big data, AI, drone, blockchain, AR, and VR, will approach one step at a time with convenience and problem. The wave of change that the new technology will bring is irresistible, and it will always give us questions from an ethical point of view.
I also heard many opinions on whether AI will be a utopia or a dystopia in the future at educational sites and meetings. However, the key point is that technology is just a tool. For example, a hammer can be a useful tool for nailing, but it can be a weapon if used incorrectly. Who would argue that the appearance of a hammer is right or wrong? The important thing is discussion and preparation of how to use technology and tools well. In addition, institutions and educations are needed to make better use of technologies such as AI.
What is different from the past is that the pace of change is incredibly fast. Therefore, we need to be prepared for the change with speed. The European Union (UN) had already given a legal right as a human to the AI robots and developed countries are organizing educations that are equipped to the new life where technology is essential. So, we should also prepare for education and systems that are needed now and put efforts to make a better future. Human makes technology and technology changes human. We will find a way we always have.