Will AI be beneficial or harmful? What do Bill Gates and the IMF think in January 2024?

January 16, 2024

The jury is out on whether artificial intelligence (AI) will be beneficial or harmful to humanity. It will be probably both. Some humans will benefit and some will not. Some will benefit more and some will benefit less. The future has not been created yet. It is impossible to know whether humans and all other living and nonliving things on Earth will contribute to the creation of a future where AI will be beneficial or harmful to humanity. Besides, those could be labels or opinions that like beauty could lie in the eyes of the beholders. For sure, the jury is out on the question. Some see AI as a problem. Some see AI as a solution. It will be most likely a combination of both. Those who see AI as an opportunity will most likely fare better than most.  

New technologies are always disruptive. In the end, if they are convenient, they are widely adopted. In the human world, convenient always prevails. Whatever is convenient succeeds and moves forward. Take writing as an example. Reading and writing were revolutionary and incredibly disruptive technologies. Socrates thought that reading and writing would be detrimental to humanity, making humans dumber and less able to memorize and reason well. Socrates reasoned that humans would rely more on written notes and lose their ability to independently memorize. Socrates was not completely wrong. Many humans in fact memorize less because they can rely on written notes. However, in the great scheme of things, writing has clearly expanded human knowledge rather than diminish it. Socrates was not completely wrong, but was mostly wrong. Regardless, writing proved very convenient and has prevailed to this day. 

The jury is out on whether AI will make humans smarter or dumber. Chances are that like writing, AI will make some humans smarter and some dumber. For humanity as a whole, AI will most likely increase intelligence significantly and exponentially. AI is computerized human-like intelligence. Computers are the greatest human invention of all times. Money and god and close contenders. 

Below, some thoughts about computers and about intelligence in general. Why computers? Because AI is computerized human-like intelligence. Knowing more about computers is essential for knowing more about AI. Why intelligence? Because that is what AI is all about. Computers and intelligence are our recurring topics at Creatix Medium where we leverage AI to increase human intelligence.

In closing this article, we also add brief notes about what the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Bill Gates said this week about AI. Let us know what you think. 

Computers

A computer is a programmable electronic device that can process data input into output by following algorithms (step-by-step instructions) for arithmetic or logical operations conducted using bits of binary digits. A computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU) performs arithmetic and logical operations through a series of electronic circuits that manipulate binary data. All data and instructions processed by the CPU are in binary form. The CPU interprets binary patterns to perform arithmetic and logical operations. For example, addition involves adding corresponding bits in binary numbers, with carry-over to higher-order bits.

• The CPU has data storage locations known as registers, which are store data temporarily during processing. The CPU's Control Unit fetches instructions from the memory and stores them in the registers for decoding. Instructions are read one by one. The Control Unit decodes the instruction to determine the operation to be performed and the data involved. Each instruction corresponds to a specific arithmetic or logical operation. 
• The CPU's Control Unit sends the data and corresponding to the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The ALU is the CPU's component that performs the arithmetic and logical operations. Arithmetic operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Logical operations include AND, OR, NOT, and XOR (either / or). The results of operations are often stored back in registers or memory.
• The CPU relies on a clock signal to synchronize its operations. The clock signal defines the pace at which instructions are executed. Each clock cycle represents a unit of time during which the CPU performs specific operations. Modern CPUs often use pipeline or parallel processing, where multiple stages of instruction execution overlap. This improves overall processing speed. In a pipeline, while one instruction is being executed, the CPU can fetch and decode the next instruction.

In summary, the CPU performs arithmetic and logical operations by fetching instructions, decoding them, and executing the operations through the ALU and other relevant components. The efficient coordination of the Control Unit, ALU, registers, and memory ensures that the CPU can process data and perform calculations in a systematic and controlled manner.

Binary System

Computers store and process data using binary code. use the binary system (base-2 number system instead of base-10 system) that uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent numerical values. Binary is the fundamental language of computers and digital systems, where information is stored and processed using binary code. In contrast to the decimal system (base-10), which uses ten digits (0-9), the binary system relies on the powers of 2.

Key concepts of the binary system include:

• Binary Digits (Bits). The basic units in the binary system are called binary digits, or bits. Each bit can represent one of two values: 0 or 1.
• Place Value System. Similar to the decimal system, the binary system is a place-value system. Each digit's position represents a power of 2. The rightmost bit represents 2^0 (2 to the power of zero), the next bit to the left represents 2^1 (2 to the power of 1), and so on.
• Binary Representation of Numbers. Binary numbers are represented using combinations of 0s and 1s. For example, the binary number 1011 represents 2^3 + 2^1 + 2^0, which is equal to 8 + 2 + 1, resulting in the decimal number 11.
• Conversion between Binary and Decimal. Converting a binary number to decimal involves adding the values of the bits based on their positions. Converting a decimal number to binary involves repeatedly dividing the decimal number by 2 and noting the remainders.
• Binary Arithmetic. Arithmetic operations in the binary system are similar to those in the decimal system. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division can be performed using binary representation.
• Byte and Bit Sequences. A group of 8 bits is called a byte, which is a common unit for representing characters in computer systems. Longer sequences of bits represent larger numerical values and are used for various data storage and processing purposes.
• Hexadecimal Notation. Binary numbers can be cumbersome to read and write. To simplify representation, hexadecimal (base-16) notation is often used in computing, where each hexadecimal digit corresponds to a group of four bits.

The binary system is foundational to digital electronics and computer science. Computers store and process information using binary code, with each bit representing the state of a switch (on or off). The binary system's simplicity and compatibility with electronic circuits make it well-suited for digital communication and computation.

Binary is more convenient for computers than base-10 (decimal) for several reasons, primarily due to the underlying electronic nature of computer systems. 

• Hardware Implementation. Computer memory and storage are implemented using electronic components like transistors, which have two distinct states: on and off. Binary, being a base-2 system, aligns naturally with these two states. A binary digit (bit) can represent the state of a switch, with 0 for off and 1 for on.
• Circuit Design. Electronic circuits are inherently binary in nature. The use of binary simplifies the design and implementation of logic gates, which are the building blocks of digital circuits. Binary circuits are more straightforward and less error-prone compared to circuits designed to work with multiple voltage levels required for a base-10 system.
• Error Resistance. Binary signals are less susceptible to errors caused by noise or interference in electronic communication. The clear distinction between 0 and 1 reduces the chances of misinterpretation. In contrast, maintaining accuracy in multiple voltage levels (as in base-10) could be more challenging due to increased sensitivity to variations.
• Storage and Processing. Binary representation is more space-efficient for storing information in computer memory. Each binary digit (bit) represents a clear on/off state, allowing for compact and efficient storage. Arithmetic and logical operations are also simpler in binary, as they align well with the electronic operations performed by logic gates.
• Circuit Speed. Digital circuits operate at high speeds, and binary representation aligns well with the rapid switching of electronic components. The discrete nature of binary digits allows for faster and more reliable signal processing. Transitions between binary states (0 and 1) can occur more quickly than transitions between multiple voltage levels.
• Operational Consistency. Binary arithmetic and logic operations are consistent and uniform. With only two digits (0 and 1), there are fewer possible combinations, making it easier to define and implement logical operations.
• Boolean Algebra. Binary operations align with Boolean algebra, a field of mathematics developed by George Boole, one of the founders of computer science. In Boolean algebra, binary numbers represent truths: 1 = true and 0 = false. Boolean algebra has two binary operations (AND, and OR), and uses logical operators like conjunction, disjunction, and negation.  

While binary is the native language of computers, it's important to note that higher-level programming languages and human-readable representations are used to make programming and interaction more user-friendly and accessible to humans. However, at the fundamental level, the internal operations of computers are based on binary representation and manipulation.

Intelligence

Intelligence is the ability to acquire knowledge and skills to solve problems. In short, intelligence is problem-solving ability. 

• Ability means being able to do something. The word "able" comes from the Old French word "(h)able" (silent h), which means "capable; fitting, suitable; agile, nimble". 
• Knowledge is the opposite of ignorance. Knowledge is awareness, understanding, or familiarity of data or information. Knowledge can be theoretical or practical, and can be acquired through education or experience. Knowledge involves cognitive processes, communication, perception, and logic. Human knowledge includes all that has been perceived, grasped, and learned over time. Knowledge is cumulative and can grow over time. Many philosophers consider knowledge to be justified true belief (JTB), which implies that knowledge is a mental state opposed to the unjustified false beliefs of ignorance.  
• A skill is the ability to perform an activity at a high level of proficiency. Being proficient is being able to aptly apply the principles and processes of an art, science, or trade. Developing a skill involves more than just a theoretical understanding of data. It requires practice and repetition. Skills come from talent and practice. The opposite of skill is inability or incompetence.

Problems

A problem is a difficult question or situation that begs a answer or solution. A problem can be a matter that is difficult to deal with, a source of trouble or worry, something difficult to understand, or a question proposed for solution by processing data for reasoning and calculating. Some synonyms for problem include: complication, dilemma, trouble, and question. Some antonyms for problem include advantage, blessing, benefit, and solution. 

The IMF and Bill Gates on AI

Bill Gates is predicting that AI will be transformative for everyone within the next five years. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported this week in January 2024 that about 40% of jobs around the world could be affected by the rise of AI within the next decade. 

Gates doesn’t disagree with the IMF, but notes that human history shows that all major technologies come with great fears followed by new opportunities. Gates points out to how machines transformed agriculture, and how humans are better off because of it. Gates believes that the convenience of using AI over the internet will change everything and liberate many humans from mundane tasks that they don't even like. As an example, Gates points out physicians to typically dislike doing routine paperwork. Gates says that AI will do all that paperwork for them. Gates believes that AI will make everyone more efficient in the long run. Gates also see AI as playing a significant role in improving the quality of human education worldwide. On the other hand, the IMF predicts that AI will deepen inequality unless governments and lawmakers do something about it. 

What do you think?

Creatix.one, AI for everyone.