Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Behind the brouhaha over the promise of artificial intelligence lie difficult realities, including how such technology could impact already disadvantaged people in a data-driven world.
A new report from the United Nations Development Program says most of the benefits from AI are likely to be reaped by rich countries, unless steps are taken to harness its power to help meet basic needs as well as reduce gaps in access to such advanced information.
The report released on Tuesday compared the situation to the “great divergence” of the Industrial Revolution, when many Western countries saw rapid modernization while others lagged behind.
The question of how companies and other institutions will use AI is of almost universal concern given the potential for computers and robots to replace or replace some of the tasks performed by people.
But while much of the attention on AI is focused on productivity, competitiveness and growth, the more important question is what it will mean for human life, the authors note.
This is an issue for communities where most people still struggle to access skills, electricity and internet connectivity, for older people, for people displaced by war, civil conflict and climate disasters. At the same time, such people may be “invisible” in data that won’t take them into account, the report said.
“As a general-purpose technology, AI can increase productivity, foster new industries and help latecomers catch up,” the report said.
Better advice on farming, analysis of x-ray Faster medical diagnosis in seconds, more effective weather forecasting and damage assessment are promising for rural communities and areas prone to natural disasters.
It says, “AI systems analyzing poverty, health and disaster risks are able to make faster, fairer and more transparent decisions, turning data into continuous learning and public value.”
Yet, even in rich countries like United States of AmericaThe prospect of data centers gobbling up huge chunks of electricity and water has raised concerns. Ramping up electricity generation to meet higher demand could hinder progress in limiting carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, which contribute to global warming, as well as pose health risks.
The technology raises ethical, privacy, and cybersecurity concerns: Researchers have found hackers using AI to automate parts of cyberattacks. There is also the problem of deepfakes that can provide misinformation or facilitate criminal activity.
Asian including nations China, JapanThe report said South Korea and Singapore are well-positioned to take advantage of AI tools, while places like Afghanistan, Maldives and Myanmar lack the skills, reliable power and other resources needed to harness the computing potential of AI. Disparities between regions within countries mean that even in advanced economies some places are likely to be left behind.
Nearly a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region lacks online access, the report said. If such gaps are not closed, many millions of people could be excluded from the devices, digital payment systems, digital IDs, and education and skills needed to fully participate in the global economy. “They may be caught on the wrong side of an AI-driven global economy,” it says.
Other risks include misinformation and disinformation, surveillance that violates privacy rights, and systems that may act as “black boxes” that reinforce biases against minorities or other groups. It says transparency and effective regulations are important guardrails to ensure AI is used in a fair and accountable manner.
“AI is becoming the region’s next essential infrastructure, like electricity, roads and schools, with rapid progress and acute risks,” the report said, urging governments to invest more in digital infrastructure, education and training, fair competition and providing social protection.
“The goal is to democratize access to AI so that every country and community can benefit and those most at risk are protected from disruption,” it says.