Super Artificial Intelligence refers to the theoretical concept of an advanced form of artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence in all cognitive aspects. This level of AI development would be capable of performing tasks that are currently beyond human comprehension and ability, such as creating novel inventions, solving complex problems, and advancing scientific knowledge at an unprecedented rate.
The concept of Super AI is often associated with Singularity, a hypothetical moment in the future when AI surpasses human intelligence and undergoes an exponential acceleration of progress, leading to an unpredictable and potentially radical transformation of human society.
While Super AI remains a theoretical concept, researchers in the field of AI are actively working on developing increasingly advanced forms of AI that can perform complex tasks and learn from experience. However, many experts warn about the potential risks and ethical implications of creating a Super AI that could potentially become uncontrollable and pose a threat to human existence.
As such, the development of Super AI raises important questions about the responsible use and regulation of AI technologies, and the need for ethical guidelines and frameworks to ensure their safe and beneficial integration into society.
Types of Artificial Intelligence
AI has a wide range of applications and is classified into three types:
- Narrow AI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), also named Weak AI, is a kind of artificial intelligence technology currently existing in today’s world. Devices or systems with narrow AI are designed to perform a specific task and collect information from the data set. Other than one specific task, narrow AI systems are not capable of anything else.
- General AI: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), also named Strong AI, is a kind of artificial intelligence technology where systems demonstrate human behavior and intelligence. This kind of technology is difficult to incorporate into machines because it is based on human behavior. This kind of AI has generally been demonstrated in sci-fi movies.
- Super AI: Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) is a kind of AI technology that would outshine the intelligence possessed by humans. Many people think that this kind of technology will lead to the destruction of human beings.
What is AI used for?
AI technology is widely used for numerous systems, devices, and services. AI is a technology that helps to develop smart machines. Given below are some of the real-time uses of AI seen in our daily lives.
- Online Shopping: AI helps to develop a user-friendly environment when it comes to online shopping. With the help of AI, a wide range of products can be suggested to the users based on previous viewing history and other online auctions.
- Virtual Assistants: Smartphones consist of virtual assistants known to answer questions asked by the user and perform specific tasks on the smartphone based on the user’s instruction. This is accomplished with the help of AI.
- Preventing cybercrime: AI is being used to discover cybercrime or attacks by a hacker by identifying hidden patterns. Patterns are also identified by analyzing the nature of input data.
- Language Translation: This is yet another common AI application where speech or text is translated to the desired language based on the user’s instruction.
In addition to these applications of AI, many other applications are on the road of planning. AI is a valuable asset of technology that should be treasured. Therefore, an artificial intelligence course is worth pursuing if this technology interests you. Artificial Intelligence Course Fees are reasonable and can be easily affordable by anyone who has the zeal to learn and become an expert.
Human-like Capabilities of Super AI
Machines with superintelligence are self-aware and can think of abstractions and interpretations that humans cannot. This is because the human brain’s thinking ability is limited to a set of a few billion neurons. Apart from replicating multi-faceted human behavioral intelligence, ASI can also understand and interpret human emotions and experiences. ASI develops emotional understanding, beliefs, and desires of its own, based on the comprehension capability of the AI.
ASI finds application in virtually all domains of human interests, be it math, science, arts, sports, medicine, marketing, or even emotional relations. An ASI system can perform all the tasks humans can, from defining a new mathematical theorem for a problem to exploring physics law while venturing into outer space.
ASI systems can quickly understand, analyze, and process circumstances to stimulate actions. As a result, the decision-making and problem-solving capabilities of super-intelligent machines are expected to be more precise than humans.
Currently, superintelligence is a theoretical possibility rather than a practical reality as most of the development today in computer science, and AI is inclined toward artificial narrow intelligence (ANI). This implies that AI programs are designed to solve only specific problems.
Machine learning and deep learning algorithms are further advancing such programs by utilizing neural networks as the algorithms learn from the results to iterate and improve upon themselves. Thus, such algorithms process data more effectively than previous AI versions. However, despite the advancements in neural nets, these models can only solve problems at hand, unlike human intelligence.
Engineers, AI researchers, and practitioners are developing technology and machines with artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is expected to pave the way for ASI development. Although there have been significant developments in the area, such as IBM’s Watson supercomputer and Apple’s Siri, today’s computers cannot fully simulate and achieve an average human’s cognitive abilities and capabilities.
Typical characteristics of ASI
Luminaries in AI are still skeptical about the progression and sustainability of ASI in the long run. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research in January 2021, researchers from premier institutes such as the Max Planck Institute concluded that it would be almost impossible for humans to contain super AIs.
The team of researchers explored the recent developments in machine learning, computational capabilities, and self-aware algorithms to map out the true potential of super-intelligent AI. They then performed experiments to test the system against some known theorems to evaluate whether containing it is feasible, if at all possible.
Nevertheless, if accomplished, superintelligence will usher in a new era in technology with the potential to initiate another industrial revolution at a jaw-dropping pace. Some of the typical characteristics of ASI that will set it apart from other technologies and forms of intelligence include:
- ASI will be one of the finest and possibly the last inventions that humans would ever need to make as it will constantly evolve to become more intelligent.
- Superintelligence will accelerate technological progress across various fields such as AI programming, space research, discovery and development of medicines, academics, and plenty of others.
- ASI may further mature and develop advanced forms of superintelligence that may even enable artificial minds to be copied.
- ASI, in the future, may also lead to the technological singularity.
Potential Threats of Super AI Systems
While artificial superintelligence has numerous followers and supporters, many theorists and technological researchers have cautioned against the idea of machines surpassing human intelligence. They believe that such an advanced form of intelligence could lead to a global catastrophe, as shown in several Hollywood movies such as Star Trek and Matrix. Moreover, even technology experts such as Bill Gates and Elon Musk are apprehensive about ASI and consider it a threat to humanity.
Potential Threats of Super AI
- Loss of control and understanding
One potential danger of superintelligence that has received a lot of attention from experts worldwide is that ASI systems could use their power and capabilities to carry out unforeseen actions, outperform human intellect, and eventually become unstoppable. Advanced computer science, cognitive science, nanotechnology, and brain emulations have achieved greater-than-human machine intelligence.
If something goes wrong with any one of these systems, we won’t be in a position to contain them once they emerge. Moreover, predicting the system’s response to our requests will be very difficult. Loss of control and understanding can thus lead to the destruction of the human race altogether.
2. The weaponization of super AI
Today, it seems logical enough to think that highly advanced AI systems could potentially be used for social control or weaponization. Governments around the world are already using AI to strengthen their military operations. However, the addition of weaponized and conscious superintelligence could only transform and impact warfare negatively.
Additionally, if such systems are unregulated, they could have dire consequences. Superhuman capabilities in programming, research & development, strategic planning, social influence, and cybersecurity could self-evolve and take positions that could become detrimental to humans.
3. Failure to align human and AI goals
Super AI can be programmed to our advantage; however, there lies a non-zero probability of super AI developing a destructive method to achieve its goals. Such a situation may arise when we fail to align our AI goals. For example, if you give a command to an intelligent car to drive you to the airport as fast as possible, it might get you to the destination but may use its route to comply with the time constraint.
Similarly, if a super AI system is assigned a critical geoengineering project, it may disturb the overall ecosystem while completing the project. Moreover, any human attempt to stop the super AI system may be viewed by it as a threat to achieving its goals, which wouldn’t be an ideal situation to be in.
4.Malevolent superintelligence
The successful and safe development of AGI and superintelligence can be ensured by teaching it the aspects of human morality. However, ASI systems can be exploited by governments, corporations, and even sociopaths for various reasons, such as oppressing certain societal groups. Thus, superintelligence in the wrong hands can be devastating.
5. The danger of nuclear attacks
With ASI, autonomous weapons, drones, and robots could acquire significant power. The danger of nuclear attacks is another potential threat to superintelligence. Enemy nations can attack countries with technological supremacy in AGI or superintelligence with advanced and autonomous nuclear weapons, ultimately leading to destruction.
6. Ethical implications
Super-intelligent AI systems are programmed with a predetermined set of moral considerations. The problem is humanity has never agreed upon a standard moral code and has lacked an all-encompassing ethical theory. As a result, teaching human ethics and values to ASI systems can be quite complex.
Super-intelligent AI can have serious ethical complications, especially if AI exceeds the human intellect but is not programmed with the moral and ethical values that coincide with human society.
Potential Advantages of Super AI
- Reduction in human error
It’s human to make errors. Computers, or machines, when appropriately programmed, can considerably reduce the instances of these mistakes. Consider the field of programming and development. Programming is a time- and resource-consuming process that demands logical, critical, and innovative thinking.
Human programmers and developers often encounter syntactical, logical, arithmetic, and resource errors. Super AI can be helpful here as it can access millions of programs, build logic from the available data on its own, compile and debug programs, and at the same time, keep programming errors to a minimum.
2. Replace humans to accomplish risky tasks
One of the most significant advantages of super AI is that the risk limitations of humans can be overcome by deploying super-intelligent robots to accomplish dangerous tasks. These can include defusing a bomb, exploring the deepest parts of the oceans, coal, and oil mining, or even dealing with the consequences of natural or human-induced disasters.
Consider the Chornobyl nuclear disaster that occurred in 1986. At the time, AI-powered robots were not yet invented. The nuclear power plant’s radiation was so intense that it could kill any human who went close to the core in a matter of minutes. Authorities were forced to use helicopters to pour sand and boron from a distance above.
However, with significant technological advancements, superintelligent robots can be deployed in such situations where salvage operations can be carried out without any human intervention.
3 .24Ă—7 Availability
Although most humans work for 6 to 8 hours a day, we need some time out to recuperate and get ready for work the very next day. We also need weekly offs to keep a healthy work-life balance. However, using super AI, we can program machines to work 24Ă—7 without any breaks.
For example, educational institutes have helpline centers that receive several queries daily. This can be effectively handled using super AI, providing query-specific solutions around the clock. Super AI can also offer subjective student counseling sessions to academic institutions.
4. Explore new science frontiers
Super AI can facilitate space exploration, as the technical challenges in developing a city on Mars, interstellar space travel, and even interplanetary travel can be addressed by the problem-solving capabilities of advanced AI systems.
With a thinking ability of its own, super AI can be effectively used to test and estimate the success probabilities of many equations, theories, research, rocket launches, and space missions. Organizations such as NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and others are already using AI-powered systems and supercomputers such as the Pleiades to expand their space research efforts.
5. Medical advances
The development of super AI can also benefit the healthcare industry vertical significantly. It can play a pivotal role in drug discovery, vaccine development, and drug delivery. A 2020 research paper by Nature revealed the design and use of miniaturized intelligent nanobots for intracellular drug delivery.
AI applications in healthcare for vaccine and drug delivery are already a reality today. Moreover, with the addition of conscious superintelligence, the discovery and delivery of new strains of medicines will become much more effective.
Is the Birth of Artificial Intelligence Inevitable?
Each week, scores of academic papers are released from universities the world over staunchly defending the various opinions. One interesting factor here is that it’s broadly accepted that this event will happen within the next few decades. After all, in 2011 Caltech created the first artificial neural network in a test tube, the first robot with “muscles” and “tendons” is now with us in the form of Ecci, and huge leaps forward are being made in just about every relevant scientific discipline.
It’s as exciting as it is incredible to consider that we may witness such an event. One paper by Nick Bostrom of Oxford University’s philosophy department stated that “there seems currently to be no good ground for assigning a negligible probability to the hypothesis that super-intelligence will be created within the lifespan of some people alive today”. This is a convoluted way of saying that the super-intelligent machines of sci-fi are a very probable future reality.
Although the scope of artificial superintelligence is yet to be fully realized, it has garnered immense attention from researchers worldwide. ASI brings numerous risks to the table, yet AI practitioners feel achieving it will be a significant accomplishment for humanity, as it may allow us to unravel the fascinating mysteries of the universe and beyond.
Today, the future of super AI looks extremely bright, despite the uncertainty and fear revolving around its unpredictable nature and the dire consequences that malevolent superintelligence may throw at us. The coming decades will reveal the true nature of superintelligence and whether it will prove to be a boon or bane to humanity.