To What Extent can Artificial Intelligence Replace Humans?

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Research report
To What Extent can Artificial Intelligence Replace Humans?
Executive Summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising technology and will make performing tasks more effective and efficient. The ability of AI to be efficient in areas that humans struggle with has created anxiety on the possibility of the technology surpassing humans, hence replacing them. While there are areas where AI is replacing human workers, especially on repetitive tasks, it does not pose a significant threat to humanity. It is essential to consider that AI needs human intervention from time to time. Consequently, the chances of AI completely replacing humans are minimal. Instead of being considered a competitor, AI should be seen as complementing human efforts in the workplace.
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) is concerned with building smart machines that can undertake tasks typically that need human intelligence. AI simulates human intelligence programmed into machines (Malik & Solanki, 2021). In other words, machines can undertake jobs that ordinarily require human intelligence. After helping the Allied forces emerge victorious by breaking the Nazi encryption machine Enigma, Alan Turing asked a question that would continue to stimulate intellectual discussions. Turing asked, “Can machines think?” (Gonçalves, 2022) In 1950, Turing wrote a paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence.” Subsequently, Turing came up with the famous Turing Test, which established the fundamental goal of AI. Scientists seek to answer Turing’s question in the affirmative. Companies and research organizations have devoted more resources towards developing machines whose intelligence is remarkable. As a result, some tasks that traditionally were left for humans can now be done by machines, leading to what appears as competition between machines and humans. In the 21st century, AI is becoming superior to humans in many tasks, making it appear that humans are ready to outsource their intelligence to technology. However, despite the advancement in AI, it will not replace humans but rather enhance what they do.
Findings and Discussion
Do Humans Need AI?
The question of whether humans need AI can be considered from different perspectives. On the one hand, if humans opt for more effective ways of accomplishing tasks, then the answer is yes. However, if humans are okay with the natural course of living without the desire to conquer the universe, then the answer would be no. However, history demonstrates that humans constantly seek ways to undertake tasks faster, easier, and more effectively. That desire pressures humans to look for new and better ways of doing things. The incentive to create new things is the basis on which modern civilization rests (Kamensky & Boev, 2015). The start of civilization employed tools meant to make work easier and more efficient. Each generation does not need to work like their forefathers. Because of innovation, subsequent generations can have a better machine that can work for them. For instance, the Industrial Revolution saw humans accomplish initially impossible tasks. The invention of the spinning wheel to produce textiles and the water wheel to power steam engines was among many inventions that led to increased production of manufactured items. Activities that were initially reserved for humans could not be done much more efficiently by machines. Humans have been known to embrace any technology that makes their work more manageable, and AI is no exception.
Because of the desire to make work easier, AI has become applicable in everyday life. AI may appear as a far-off concept with nothing to do with humans. However, the reality is that it has found its way into daily life. Humans encounter AI machines and applications even sometimes without their knowledge. AI has various applications in everyday tasks like face recognition, text editors, chatbots, and digital assistants like Siri. Applications relying on AI have been developed to process large amounts of data and deliver accurate results to the user (Sarker, 2022). For instance, chatbots have found an application in customer service. Clients can interact with chatbots and get answers on issues of their concern. Such a task in the past would require businesses to employ numerous customer management agents to attend to clients' queries. Sometimes, humans can chat with bots and not realize they are machines. There is a massive potential for AI machines and applications to find their way into everyday tasks, making a section of individuals feel capable of replacing humans.
Fears about AI
There have been fears that AI could ultimately destroy humans. Today, Frankenstein's fears continue to hang over AI. Frankenstein is an 1818 novel by the English author Mary Shelly. The author tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who undertakes an unorthodox experiment resulting in a sapient creature. The monster, while looking fearsome, was sensitive and emotional and tried to fit into society (Shelley, 2001). However, people reject the monster because of its appearance. Frankenstein is also afraid of the creature and denies it an opportunity to have a mate. Such a move outrages the monster. The tragic story ends with the monster killing some characters and running away, never to be seen. Frankenstein dies while wishing he could destroy the monster he created, but it is too late.
Frankenstein’s demine plays into the fears that AI could lead to the destruction of humanity. Some individuals believe that the advent of AI could lead to a future where AI and human intelligence are equal, or even the former surpasses the latter. If AI equals or exceeds human intelligence because of the increased computing power, humans could be suppressed by their creation. The ability of AI to process large amounts of data and learn faster than humans is what Frankenstein's creation does. If humans can no longer catch up with AI, this could threaten a civilization humans have worked hard to preserve.
Arguments against AI replacing human workers
While AI threatens human workers, it is impossible to replace them altogether. This is because AI has apparent limitations that make human intelligence stand out. Firstly, AI lacks emotions, which is critical in some professions like medicine (Montemayor, Halpern & Fairweather, 2021). AI cannot have emotions like empathy. Instead, AI machines and applications can only be programmed to mimic emotions. A field like medicine requires professionals to employ emotions when dealing with patients. For instance, conveying news about the death of a beloved one goes beyond delivering the message. It needs healthcare professionals to be empathetic about the client’s situation. Without empathy, the client may perceive the professional as inhuman. AI cannot undertake tasks that require an understanding of people's emotions. Hence, replacing humans in the medical field would be challenging, especially for doctors. While diseases have the same feature, patients and their lifestyles vary. Since no patient is like another, a doctor must approach each case uniquely. In such a case, AI is limited because it has a linear approach, unlike physicians with a nonlinear method to meet the client’s needs. This does not mean that AI does not have a wide range of applications in the healthcare system. Instead, it implies that AI cannot replace healthcare workers but will enhance how they operate (Davenport & Kalakota, 2019). In the future, physicians and other healthcare professionals will rely more on AI to make major decisions.
Secondly, AI cannot fully replace human workers because there are some aspects it cannot learn. Humans depend on their ability to think critically and use memory when making decisions. Humans' experiences play a major role in determining their actions. For instance, managers with a wealth of experience will rely on past mistakes to make major decisions. Witho...