I
have had a few conversations over the past weeks in which I propose
that we are currently experiencing a pivotal moment in the history of
mankind. A moment that is perhaps even more significant to the future
than the Wright Brothers first flight was 120 years ago! Within the past
few weeks scientists succeeded in creating energy through nuclear
fusion. And now the launch of ChatGPT, a user-friendly Artificial
Intelligence (AI) front-end.
Each of these accomplishments alone ushers in a seismic shift, the
magnitude of which we can't even comprehend or visualize. And we get
both at the same time...!!! We are barely dipping our toe in the vast
ocean before us.
Of the two, the advent of mainstream artificial intelligence immediately
appears to be the most volatile. Many questions remain to be answered…
- How will this affect jobs? Which jobs?
- How will this affect the education system?
- How will this affect the arts and music, and creativity in general?
- How will intellectual property rights fit – who owns what has been created or written?
- How do we need to change to learn to use this tool most effectively?
- What is the best way to embrace it? Do we need to fear it?
- How do we prevent really bad things from happening in the hands of malicious actors?
- How do we use this tool to help fix really big problems?
- And thousands more…
History has just held up a new blank canvas and in our lifetimes we have
the privilege of witnessing only the beginning of the painting.
Centuries after us this canvas will still be a work in progress. We also
have a collective responsibility to guide with wisdom.
Generations
from now historians will point to this moment, wondering what it must
have been like to experience this, to actually see it happening right in
front of us.
So let’s give this a go. Below are examples of AI responding to
questions posed about the two items mentioned above – nuclear fusion,
and artificial intelligence. Using ChatGPT I entered a prompt related to
each:
1. Describe the significance of the accomplishment of nuclear fusion on the future of mankind
2. Describe the significance of AI, specifically ChatGPT, on the future of mankind
The response time was under 30 seconds for each question and the results
are included below. I am impressed with the insight and thoughtfulness
of each rather brief response. And this from an AI tool that is barely
out of the starting gate.
We are in for a wild ride! I kind of feel like the dude in the commercial from a few years ago...
EXAMPLE 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Me to ChatGPT:
Describe the significance of the accomplishment of nuclear fusion on the future of mankind
ChatGPT:
Nuclear fusion, the process of combining atomic
nuclei to form heavier elements, has the potential to provide a
virtually limitless source of clean and safe energy. If scientists can
develop a sustainable and efficient method of nuclear fusion, it would
greatly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and decrease the amount of
greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, slowing or reversing the
effects of climate change. Additionally, it would also greatly enhance
the energy security of countries, reducing the dependence on foreign oil
and gas. However, achieving this goal requires significant scientific
research and technological developments, as the process of nuclear
fusion is currently difficult to control and maintain.
(Note: ChatGPT contains data through 2021, so the following from December 2022 provides a relevant update)
Scientists achieve a breakthrough in nuclear fusion. Here’s what it means.
A U.S. lab has successfully sparked a fusion reaction that released more energy than went into it. But there’s still a long way to go toward fusion as a clean energy source.
BYMICHAEL GRESHKO / PUBLISHED DECEMBER 13, 2022 – For more than 60 years, scientists have pursued one of the toughest physics challenges ever conceived: harnessing nuclear fusion, the power source of the stars, to generate abundant clean energy here on Earth. Today, researchers announced a milestone in this effort. For the first time, a fusion reactor has produced more energy than was used to trigger the reaction.
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scientists-achieve-breakthrough-nuclear-fusion
EXAMPLE 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Me to ChatGPT:
Describe the significance of AI, specifically ChatGPT on the future of mankind
ChatGPT:
Artificial intelligence (AI), including models like
ChatGPT, has the potential to greatly impact many aspects of society in
the future.
One of the most significant ways that AI can impact
the future of mankind is by automating many tasks and processes,
increasing efficiency and productivity in industries such as
manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. Additionally, AI-powered
decision-making systems can help to improve the accuracy and speed of
decision-making in fields such as finance, law enforcement and medicine.
Another potential benefit of AI is the ability to help solve some of the
world's most pressing problems, such as climate change, poverty and
disease. For example, AI can be used to analyze large amounts of data to
identify patterns and trends that can help to inform policy decisions
and resource allocation.
However, it is important to note that along with the potential benefits,
AI also poses some risks and challenges. For instance, widespread
automation could lead to significant job loss and economic disruption,
and the use of AI in decision-making systems could perpetuate biases and
discrimination. Additionally, the increasing use of AI raises ethical
and legal questions about accountability and transparency.
Overall, the significance of AI on the future of mankind will depend on
how it is developed, deployed, and regulated, as well as society's
ability to adapt to the changes it brings.
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