Artificial intelligence is a technology that has been severely on the rise over the past decade or so. Many companies, institutions and universities are still trying to grasp its possibilities and dangers, trying to figure out how to incorporate the technology in its own practices. Just a few days ago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that it is investing one billion dollars to create a new college that is fully focused on the technology of artificial intelligence, called the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing.

MIT announced that about two-thirds of the investment have already been secured, with Mr. Stephen A. Schwarzman as the leading investor. The new college will already start offering its program in 2019, whereas it will move into a newly built building in 2022.

Since artificial intelligence is arguably one of the most prominent threats to the traditional way of conducting business, the step that MIT is taking with the creation of this new college seems a logical one. What strikes me, personally, is the reason for creating this college. Instead of solely focusing on the benefits for the businesses, the focus of the program will also be with the people that it affects. According to Mr. Schwarzman, “we face fundamental questions about how to ensure that technological advancements benefit all — especially those most vulnerable to the radical changes AI will inevitably bring to the nature of the workforce.”

Perhaps we – the world as a whole – should follow suit. Artificial intelligence brings many possibilities into the world that we’re all trying to figure out and understand. We’re looking at the benefits and advantages of the technology, whereas maybe we should shift our perspective just a little bit more towards the disadvantages as well. Millions, if not billions of people, are going to be affected by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Research should be conducted and plans should be made to make sure that artificial intelligence will not disrupt our human practices in a way that disadvantages the majority, whereas it only brings advantages to select groups.

As excited as I am for the possibilities of artificial intelligence and the creation of specific universities to tackle its possibilities, it raises some uneasy feelings within me as well. Therefore, I applaud MIT for making this investment. Not necessarily for a bigger understanding of the possibilities of artificial intelligence, but for a bigger understanding of the consequences that come with it.

Reference:
MIT News Office (2018) ‘MIT reshapes itself to shape the future’, MIT News, 15 October. Available at: http://news.mit.edu/2018/mit-reshapes-itself-stephen-schwarzman-college-of-computing-1015 (Accessed: 17 October 2018)

When the television show Westworld hit the screens in 2016, it managed to immediately pique my interest. Here was a wild west-themed park, inhabited by life-like robots whose actions were defined by complicated artificial intelligence algorithms. The human guests of this park could engulf themselves in a world where they could not distinguish robot from man and where they could escape from their boring everyday lives. Until the robots turned on the humans and everything went horribly wrong, that is. It’s a television show after all.

Neglecting the horrific and gruesome consequences in the Westworld television show, there was one question that kept returning to my thoughts: how long would it take until our everyday theme parks would be inhabited by Westworld-like robots? After all, it seems like a logical next step in an industry where amusing the guests is still happening with the use of dressed up actors. How long, until guests won’t realize they’re being entertained by a robot instead of an actor in a suit?

When it comes to real human characters, such as pirates, cowboys, Roman warriors – you name it – modern technology simply isn’t there yet. Recreating a human in a convincing robotic form, with its thoughts and manners all realistically portrayed, seems like something that won’t be possible in nearby future. However, the future seems brighter when it comes to AI powered robotic cartoon characters in theme parks. Just last year at SXSW festival, Disney announced that its looking into the possibility of replacing their human actors by life-sized AI robots.

Since cartoon characters usually have body characteristics that aren’t as complicated as that of humans, the first implementation of these robots seems suitable for Disney parks. According to Disney’s vice president of research and development Jon Snoddy, Disney is looking into “Things like characters that can move around among our guests. They’re going to need to understand where they’re going, have goals, and they’re going to have to know how to navigate in a world with humans”, which sounds… awfully close to the premise of Westworld. However, Disney realizes that the implementation of these robots should be carefully researched and tested. “Obviously, we’re not in the business of scaring kids. (…) We go and do tests in our parks to gauge the reaction and try and understand what kids find entertaining about these things”, said Snoddy.

For now, my Westworld-inflicted worries about murderous AI robots have been put to rest. However, let’s see what the real public reaction will be when Disney (or any other theme park) starts to carefully implement these robots into their theme parks. Will we run for our lives, or embrace them with laughter?

References
Sulleyman, A. (2017). Disney to introduce AI robot Mickey Mouse at theme parks, insists it does not want to terrify children. The Independent, [online]. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/disney-mickey-mouse-ai-robot-disneyworld-a7626886.html [Accessed on the 5th of October, 2018]