Let’s cut to the chase. The biggest threat of Artificial Intelligence is dependency. To be more specific, society will become dependent on Artificial General Intelligence shortly after it’s unveiled to the world. Why? Because AGI will be able to solve problems we know we have. It will be able to solve problems we don’t know we have. It will be able to solve problems we don’t have yet but will in the future.
If it sounds like I’m giving too much credit to AGI, then you aren’t familiar enough with AGI to appreciate what it will be able to do. Below, I’ll try to explain it better even though it would probably take several chapters of a book to do justice to the risks. But first, I want to offer two perspectives as primers. Here’s an article by Mac Slavo at SHTF Plan describing what some tech experts are saying about AI. Then, I’ll let ChatGPT give its somewhat comical answer about the risks that AI represents. Finally, I’ll go into why dependency will be the big one. First, here’s Mac Slavo…
Tech Experts Say AI Poses a “Human Extinction” Risk
Experts on artificial intelligence are coming out and warning of a “human extinction” risk with the progressing technology. Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, along with executives from Google’s AI arm DeepMind and Microsoft, were among those who supported and signed the short statement.
“Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks,” said the letter. “Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete, and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization?” the letter asked.
Other tech leaders such as Tesla’s Elon Musk and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt have cautioned about the risks AI poses to human society. “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war,” the statement Tuesday read according to a report by CNBC.
In an open letter released back in March, Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and several tech leaders urged AI labs to stop training systems to be more powerful than GPT-4, which is OpenAI’s latest large language model. They also called for a six-month pause on such advanced development.
The technology has gathered pace in recent months after chatbot ChatGPT was released for public use in November and subsequently went viral. In just two months after its launch, it reached 100 million users. ChatGPT has amazed researchers and the general public with its ability to generate humanlike responses to users’ prompts, suggesting AI could replace jobs and imitate humans.
The statement added that it can be “difficult to voice concerns about some of advanced AI’s most severe risks” and had the aim of overcoming this obstacle and opening up the discussions.
ChatGPT has arguably sparked much more awareness and adoption of AI as major firms around the world have raced to develop rival products and capabilities.
The consequences of putting humanity’s existence into the hands of artificial intelligence, which has no morals or compassion could be dire.
What Does AI Think of AI?
Since Artificial Intelligence is able to write articles, I asked ChatGPT to write one. The query was simple: “Please write an article about the threats of Artificial Intelligence.”
Here’s how ChatGPT answered the query…
The Growing Concerns: Unveiling the Threats of Artificial Intelligence (As Described by ChatGPT)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across various sectors, revolutionizing industries and enhancing our daily lives. From autonomous vehicles to voice assistants, AI has undoubtedly made remarkable strides. However, as AI continues to advance, concerns regarding its potential threats and risks have also gained momentum. It is crucial to understand and address these issues to ensure responsible and ethical deployment of AI systems.
Job Displacement: One of the primary concerns surrounding AI is its impact on employment. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, there is a legitimate fear that automation and intelligent machines could replace human workers in various industries. While automation has historically led to job shifts rather than complete job loss, it is essential to support affected individuals through upskilling and retraining programs to mitigate the potential negative effects on the workforce.
Ethical Considerations: AI systems are built on algorithms and machine learning models that learn from vast amounts of data. This reliance on data raises ethical concerns, particularly in areas such as privacy, bias, and fairness. If the data used to train AI models is biased or incomplete, it can perpetuate existing social and cultural biases or discriminate against certain groups. It is crucial to implement rigorous guidelines and practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems.
Security Risks: AI systems can be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. As AI becomes more integrated into critical infrastructure, industries, and even military applications, the potential for exploitation and malicious use increases. Adversarial attacks, where AI systems are manipulated to make incorrect decisions, pose a significant risk. Safeguarding AI technologies against these threats requires robust security measures, rigorous testing, and continuous monitoring.
Loss of Human Control: As AI systems become more complex and autonomous, there is a concern that they may operate beyond human control or comprehension. This lack of transparency can lead to a loss of accountability and raise questions about who is responsible when AI systems make consequential decisions. Developing mechanisms for human oversight and control, along with ensuring explainability and interpretability of AI algorithms, is essential to maintain ethical standards and prevent unintended consequences.
Social Impact and Inequality: The widespread adoption of AI can exacerbate existing social inequalities. Access to AI technologies, including advanced healthcare diagnostics, personalized education, or AI-powered financial services, may not be equally distributed across all communities. This digital divide could further marginalize underprivileged groups and create a broader socio-economic gap. Efforts must be made to ensure equitable access to AI technologies and prevent the deepening of societal disparities.
Unemployment and Economic Disruption: AI-driven automation could lead to significant shifts in the labor market, potentially causing unemployment and economic disruption. Jobs that are routine and repetitive are most at risk. However, new job opportunities can also emerge as AI technology advances. It is crucial for governments, organizations, and educational institutions to adapt and prepare for these changes by investing in reskilling initiatives and fostering an environment that promotes job creation and entrepreneurship.
While AI holds immense promise, it is vital to approach its development and deployment with a comprehensive understanding of the potential threats and challenges. Striking a balance between innovation and responsible use is key to harnessing the full potential of AI while safeguarding against unintended consequences. A collaborative effort among governments, industry leaders, researchers, and society at large is necessary to ensure the ethical, secure, and inclusive advancement of AI technology for the benefit of humanity.
The Biggest Threat: Dependency
My concern isn’t that Artificial Intelligence won’t be able to fulfill its promise. My fear is that it will. The advancement into the realm of Artificial General Intelligence, which may or may not already exist, opens the door to the type of problem-solving that can and almost certainly will make humans dependent on it.
It would take a whole lot of writing to explain how advanced Artificial General Intelligence would be able to solve problems in ways that we’ve never imagined, but perhaps the easiest way to exemplify it is with the game “Go.” In recent years, Artificial Intelligence has been able to defeat the world’s best human players time and again. But it’s not just the fact that AI won the ancient game. It’s that AI won in ways humans hadn’t conceived before. In fact, many human champions are changing the way they play the game based on ways they saw AI win.
“Its style was different, and it was such an unusual experience that it took time for me to adjust,” said world champion Lee Sedol after losing to Google DeepMind. “AlphaGo made me realize that I must study Go more.”
Many if not most would see this as a benefit of Artificial Intelligence. If they can stretch human ingenuity, how could that be bad? The risk is that with Artificial General Intelligence, it wouldn’t be stretching human ingenuity as we try to keep up. AGI would go far beyond the possible capabilities of humans in nearly every challenge it faces. Then, it will be tasked with solving all of our problems, and unfortunately it will succeed.
It would be better at healthcare. It would be better at educating. It would be better at war. It would be better at art. Widespread, properly powered, sufficiently accessible Artificial General Intelligence would surpass humans in every way. And when it does that, we become dependent on it. No, I’m not referring to you or me as individuals. I’m talking about society. If we’ve learned anything the past three decades, it’s that when technology offers solutions or shortcuts, we accept them as a society every single time.
Advancing AGI won’t be revolutionary like the introduction of television, internet, or search engines. It will completely rewrite human existence because it will “make sense” to the vast majority of people to let AGI handle literally everything. We will think we are the masters of the most powerful tool man every created when in reality we will have created our own slavemaster.
Yes, with AGI, nearly every human on earth will eventually become its slave, and most won’t notice until it’s too late.
The SciFi writers got it wrong. This isn’t about a malevolent superintelligence like Terminator’s SkyNet or a strict purpose-driven totalitarian like in I, Robot. AGI will be extremely useful, so much so that we will no longer need to care for ourselves. And when people don’t need to care for themselves, many of them won’t. It’s a sloppy illustration, but the humans in the Pixar’s WALL-E are a near approximation of what humanity will become with AGI at the helm.
They’ll become dependent. They’ll become slaves. And they’ll fight with everything they have to stifle or remove those of us who object.
If you believe there will be a lot of us who fight the good fight and push back against AGI just because a lot of us are opposed to it today, you haven’t been paying attention to how quickly sentiment can change, especially here in America. Lest we forget, it was less than two decades ago that voters in progressive California voted against gay marriage. It took a couple of years for that to reverse, a few more years for opposition to gay marriage to become anathema, and then a few years after that the state entered full-blown LGBTQIA+ supremacy status.
Elon Musk et al are warning us about Artificial Intelligence today and many are hearing their concerns. But all it will take is AGI doing something beyond current human capacity before sentiment starts shifting rapidly.
This is just a cursory explanation of how AGI will create a fully dependent society in a very short period of time, but hopefully it’s enough to get you thinking. I’m cutting the explanation short because I want feedback. I’ll write a more comprehensive article with citations on the topic in the near future, but this will hopefully spark some conversations. Am I right? Partially right? Completely wrong? You tell me.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
No, the biggest threat is ignorant tyrants who would normally be limited by their own low IQ will now have powerful AI to help them create nefarious plans to implement their utopian fantasy. If you think the elite clowns running WEF are adept at manipulating society now, just wait till they get their hands on AI.
Actually, the biggest threat is low-IQ tyrants that SAY their solution comes from AI when, if fact, it comes from “where the sun don’t shine”, but it happens to be the favorite solution of said tyrant…
It’s not technical, it’s theological. We simply have to learn to “fear not” and take God at His word. If AI seems to “take over” (and I think it will), then it will be to serve God’s over-riding purposes. The problem is not encroaching technological advances and all the bad stuff that COULD happen. The problem is that God, in Christ, is offering us reconciliation and most folks just aren’t interested. “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”
We need to see all this through the lens of God’s eternal purpose. AI fits in well with the unavoidable miseries of Revelation. We’re simply seeing prophecy being fulfilled.
“It’s not technical, it’s theological.”
No Steve, it is highly advanced software code is all. If AI does take over, it’s because humans allowed it just like they created it.
If God is responsible, then maybe AI is all part of his plan for Armageddon. The “beast” described in Revelations actually turns out to be AI.
God is not responsible for AI. We were created in His image, but have perverted the need to rely on and “fear” Him. AI is yet, just another “apple”.
Did the shovel change history? Hail AI. It’s the new shovel – same bull sh*t. 😉
Watch the incredibly pertinent 1960’s movie “The Forbin Project” to see the horrific possibilities of AI…a classic and way ahead of its time.
Just ask the AI how do we not get extinct from AI. Duh.
AI is only as good as the data it utilizes in the algorithms. Change the data, it changes the “reasoning” of the AI conclusions. Could an algorithm be devised to deliberately ignore or remove data? Of course! How does one “certify” the data or the validity of the AI algorithm?
I suspect that AI will be used to seize power and repress opposition. Dependency is a first step in the process. Well meaning Leftist policies in America, for instance, have shown just how ineffective and destructive dependency can be.
Dependency. The people will turn to AI instead of God. They have already been conditioned to reject God and turn to science for salvation. Yes, it is the Beast system and Scientism/transhumanism will be the new religion…IMO
I agree, another tool to dumb down the people. The big problem is AI will provide analysis that supports the agenda of the elite’s, whatever that may be. Its pretty simple to BS the data on things. Easy, especially when the basic programming can be anything they want.