Artificial Intelligence: Implications, Issues, and Balance in Today’s Society

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a norm in today’s advancing society as humans long for the cheapest, fastest, and most reliable way to get a task done. AI has shown up in the home in the form of a simple voice recognition box, in the workforce as a way to mass produce products, on the road as a potential safety enhancement to the distracted driver, and in the medical field advancing the ability to diagnosis and treat.1,2,3,4 These phenomenal advancements are key to living in a modern society. However, these advancements have masked the potential problems with placing trust in AI. Unforeseen biases and ethical issues have risen out of these new advancements posing society with a new question of whether or not we are doing good or doing harm.5 AI is said to only be good as the algorithm with which its creator programs it with, leaving it susceptible to manipulation and biases.3 With people attempting to outdo one other to make a name in today’s society, artificial intelligence has become a necessary application regardless of the ethical and economic issues they pose. Therefore, in order for artificial intelligence to succeed, it is important that there is a system of checks and balances so the consequences and complications that come with self-thinking technology does not begin to outweigh the benefits, leading to an endangerment of society