Is AI serving a truly useful purpose? Is the AI boom about humanity or profit?
A Bank of America report estimates that in 2030 there will be one million humanoid robots sold annually, by 2060 there will be three billion humanoid robots in service — one humanoid for every three humans.
Are you prepared for a future interacting with robots everywhere — in the mall, at the theatre, or in the bus? It is a frightening forecast we wish to avoid. Let the brave hearts pursue the uncertain future of AI, we instead wish to reiterate the famous cliché “Stop the world, I want to get off.”
Restless man has an insatiable sense of curiosity — to forecast the future, to create alternate worlds, to stretch our visions beyond our boundaries. Humans have even pursued the different forms of employing robots to do our bidding. Now we have wings to fly and fins to swim.
Beginnings of science fiction go back to pre-historic myths and tales of fantastic voyages and adventures. The earliest notions of artificial beings can be traced to ancient myths and philosophers discussing about creating intelligent life. Sources from the 13th century can serve as good examples that support such an assumption.
In the 1900s science fiction predicted the technologies and scientific marvels of the atomic and space ages. It gained a wider audience after WWII with developments in nuclear energy and space explorations. Science fiction was more realistic than many people believed. The most dominant of man’s creations to date is AI.
This enormous effort is not in vain, but the strength of a rope is but the strength of its weakest part. Will the day come when serving robots would be served by humans?
Film has offered a cautionary note in the 1968 production of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey. The computer humanoid Hal, created by Dave, has become independent of his maker. Hal and Dave battle it out, wondering who is the boss. This thought-provoking adventure marks a watershed moment when humanoids can be no longer confined to the imagination of their sci-fi writers.
The fantasy film genre is no longer a fantasy. The demand for robots is expected to reach $170 billion by 2030.
In five years, robotic surgery will replace live surgeons with greater efficiency and accuracy. If you think the AI system is 100 per cent accurate, you are wrong. What if a malfunction occurs? Who do we discuss, advise, ask for help or comfort? What if human intervention is no longer possible?
As Stephen Polyak, one of the most prominent neuroanatomists of the 20th century, said “Before we work on AI, why don’t we do something about stupidity?”
The unending debate over AI is reminiscent of the warning about creating other creatures. In the 1800s we find an indisputable link between Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein and our present and future doubts. Her classic tale about creating a human was inspired by the Greek myth of Prometheus who created mankind from clay. The concept was rooted in the scientific advancements and philosophical questions of Shelley’s time, particularly the growing ability of humans to manipulate and understand life through science.
Victor Frankenstein created a being, but his appearance excluded him from society, not his potential for human abilities. He was criticised for abandoning his creatures, thus Victor failed to create a true human. We are tempted to extend our boundaries, not our humanity. Victor’s obsessive pursuit of knowledge blurs him to the potential dangers of his work. Similarly, the rapid advancement of AI is a modern manifestation of this feverish pursuit.
The narrative of the scientist Frankenstein and his creature has continued to interest audiences and through the film media the story has reached many generations of film-goers.
Victor’s demise could mimic today’s AI without nurturing it like a developing child. So much can go wrong without ethical and moral principles. Driven by greed, we are liable to wreak havoc in our fever to surpass human intelligence.
How often we forget to respect our humanity. Is life special? Why do we always look elsewhere?
Chances are German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844- 1900) never read Mary Shelley’s novel, but his ideal of a future human, an “Ubermensch” or Superman, echoes a glance at creating a better, more efficient human. AI is an attempt to surpass human intelligence, circumventing our limitations which essentially envision Nietzsche as superior to ordinary humans.
Overcoming human limitations is what AI is in the process of developing, which is the Nietzschean perspective, the fundamental drive to exert power and enhance oneself through human ingenuity.
Unhappy with humanity, we have a strong desire to improve it, both physically and mentally. There are a million ways to improve our lot without destroying our humanity.
AI’s capabilities and potentials in the service of mankind are limitless, but unchecked ambition and greed can be led to uncontrollable outcomes. It is heretical being contrary to our whole existence.
Since AI is our future, let us replace playing God with helping his creatures.
Humanity’s place in the universe is reserved for mankind.
“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)
* A version of this article appears in print in the 28 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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