January 12, 2024
No, artificial intelligence (AI) will not solve all problems of humanity. AI will solve many problems and in so doing will generate even more problems. That is Problem Paradox. The solution to a problem creates even more problems. That is the way of progress and it is probably inevitable.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is computerized human-like intelligence. Intelligence is problem-solving ability. Problem solving is all about data processing. Problem solving entails identifying the problem, finding out what causes the problem, and implementing changes to solve the problem. Those three tasks require processing data to run comparisons, detect patterns of causal correlations, and simulate changes in input or processing that can lead to changes in results (i.e. solutions).
Since intelligence is all about problem solving, and problem solving is all about data processing, AI will continue developing an intelligence edge over human intelligence. In the near future, within the next three decades until the 2050s, AI will continue developing as an intelligence utility to the service of humanity. In the next 30 years, AI will become an indispensable virtual assistant for humanity. AI will help humans solve all sorts of problems, from mundanely simple affairs to highly complex ordeals. Just like humans rely on the internet today as an information and communication utility, humans will rely on AI--accessed mostly via the internet--as an intelligence (problem-solving) utility.
Below some thoughts about intelligence, problem solving, and the future of AI.
What is intelligence?
Intelligence is problem-solving ability. Dictionaries define intelligence as the ability to acquire knowledge and apply skills. Since humans acquire knowledge and skills to solve problems, another definition of intelligence may be the ability to solve problems or "problem-solving ability".
Problem - Causes - Solutions
Yes, a problem causes (brings) solutions. That is a useful phrase to remember the three basic steps in problem solving. The three steps in using intelligence to solve problems are: (i) identifying the problem; (ii) identifying what causes the problem; and (iii) implementing (or at least simulating) the changes to the input and/or to the process that would generate a different outcome that serves as solution to the problem.
Identifying a Problem
The first step to problem solving is identifying or defining the problem to be addressed and hopefully solved. Problem identification may not be as straightforward or simple as it may sound. Defining and conceptualizing a problem is the most critical step in the problem-solving process, and requires plenty of data processing and intelligence. There are many ways of identifying problems
Human Needs and Wants
One way to identify problems is to identify unmet or underserved needs and wants. Typically what humans consider "problems" are deficiencies or shortfalls in meeting needs and wants.
The needs and wants of humans can be as unlimited as human imagination. The ability to set mental images in motion (imagination) is one of the three key abilities separating humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. The other two are communication and collaboration. The reality about human imagination is that it is infinite, and thus it can be infinitely larger than actual reality. This can lead to the identification of countless of problems in the form or unmet needs and wants.
There is a hierarchy of human needs ranging from physical safety, to physiological needs, to psychological needs and wants.
Safety First
Physical safety is really the most fundamental need of organic life because without it not even cells could survive. All biological life on Earth is cellular life. This is because cells are the shelters protecting the organic compounds (e.g. DNA, RNA, proteins) that engage in the processes that generate life. Biological life is not viable without environmental safety. For example, a human zygote would not even form, much less develop into an embryo, without the safety provided by the fallopian tubes.
Physiological Needs
After environmental safety, physiological needs take primacy. Humans cannot survive for long without meeting certain physiological needs. For example, humans need a practically continuous supply of oxygen to survive. They need to regulate proper temperature. They need hydration. They need nutrition to survive. Using 3s for convenient illustration, it can be said that humans can survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without temperature control, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food, 3 months in complete isolation, and anywhere from 3 months to 3 decades without proper social connections.
Psychological Needs and Unlimited Wants
Once safety and physiological needs are met, humans quickly move into the practically infinite realm of psychological needs and wants. Oftentimes humans find it difficult to discern between psychological needs versus wants. To make matters worse, humans can use their imagination to conceive an imaginary state of perfection against which to compare and contrast their perceived realities. This leads to infinite "problems" that humans want to solve feeling that they "need" to be solved. Some problems cannot be solved, which can lead to a great deal of frustration in many humans.
Expectation and Reality
Another way to identify problems is by comparing or contrasting expectation against reality. Many "problems" identified by humans are based on subtracting perceived reality from imaginary perfection. This is a mental trap because perfection does not exist.
Perfection is a fiction of human imagination. Humans can imagine perfect supernatural forces and perfect circumstances. In reality, perfection does not exist. Nothing in this universe is ever perfect. The universe is dynamic and in a constant state of change. Everything in this universe is constantly changing. Therefore, even if perfection existed for a fraction of second, it would change almost immediately into something other than perfection.
Nonetheless, in the human quest for perfection, there is an unlimited abundance of "problems" to be solved. Like imagination, problems are also infinite in nature. Since the universe is in constant dynamic change and motion, the solution of a problem inevitably creates many more problems to solve. That is the Problem Paradox in a universe in constant change and creation (a "creatix"). The solution of a problem creates more problems. Problems are being created constantly. As problems are solved, more problems are generated. Oftentimes the new problems are more complex than the original ones. In any event, solving problems is necessary to sustain life and can also be a fun pastime while being alive waiting for the still inevitable death.
Finding What Causes a Problem
Following the identification of a problem to solve, the next step is to find out the causality or what causes the problem. This is done by processing information about all the variables involved in the process that generates the problem. Whatever the problem may be, it was caused by certain input processed in a certain way that culminated in the output that is considered the problem.
A forensic data processing analysis is required to find out what caused the problem. What input is being processed, and how it is being processed, to generate the problematic output. Humans say that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. In the context of problems, it is insane to leave the input and processing the same way, and expect a different output.
Identifying the causes of a problem entails processing information about the input and the processing to find patterns and correlations in the data. Whatever the problem or problematic output may be, it was caused by input processed a certain way. Data processing can identify the input and the process the led to the problematic output.
The Wisdom of Implementing Solutions
All problems have theoretical solutions. However, some solutions would require violating the laws of physics. Humans do not currently possess the knowledge to alter the laws of physics, or are otherwise constrained by the ignorance of how to do so. Therefore, for the time being, if a solution of a problem entails violating the laws of physics, it is practical to assume that the solution is not viable.
If a problem only has solutions that entail violating the laws of physics, it is practical to assume that the problem does not have a feasible solution and should be left unsolved. In those instances, humans should move on to another problem that can be solved. Problems are infinite. There is no need to obsess on the ones that cannot be solved for the time being.
For problems with feasible solutions, it is just a matter of changing the input variables or the process mechanisms to obtain different results that may serve as practical solutions. Typically, there are multiple ways of solving a problem, including doing nothing and simply accepting the "problem" as a non-problem, a solution to another problem, or a "blessing" in disguise. It takes wisdom to decide what problems to solve, how to solve them, and what problems to let unsolved.
The Way of AI
AI will help humans solve more problems. Due to the Problem Paradox, this will create an almost exponential growth in additional problems to solve. The new problems will be harder to solve as time moves on. This will require increases in AI capacity. The AI "arms race" will continue accelerating. Eventually, AI will become more powerful than all of humanity combined. Whether that is a solution or a problem is up to humans to decide.
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