Artificial Intelligence (ePub)

Artificial Intelligence (AI), is the ability of machines to mimic the cognitive functions that humans and animals have for learning and using knowledge for problem-solving. Although the U.S. is assessed to be the leader in AI, nobody knows who the 'top dog' is, because a lot of the action is kept in secrecy. China and Russia are dedicating huge resources to achieve technological and military superiority. Whoever has the largest database wins. It does not take very long to figure out that there is a new reality, and that traditional ethical and moral considerations are a thing of the past. Although the 'algorithmic warfare battlefield' is not yet here, it is not very far from becoming a reality. AI technology constitutes a significant transformative experience that impacts many areas for good and bad. But there is no confirmation of any instance in which robots killed anyone on their own without human involvement. Personal privacy has been lost, as financial institutions, credit card companies, banks, IT companies, airline and cruise companies, government agencies at all levels, and numerous other entities collect and share personal information. Social media is a warzone, now enhanced by AI. All kinds of nefarious actors use AI to trick people out of their money using very creative ways to create confusion. With the push of a button using AI, an organization or an individual can reach millions of people globally, and cause a crisis overnight. Sowing confusion using AI and social media platforms is a documented tactic of Russia and China. However, there has been considerable braggadocio, as some world leaders like to tout their accomplishments, but in reality, while some weaponized AI has been successful, others have underperformed. The FBI and the NCSC have released reports to raise awareness of how hostile actors use AI, fake profiles, and other forms of deception, to target people in government, business, and academia for recruitment and information gathering on a mass scale. AI is a present and increasingly future danger, but it is also a double edge sword. AI is a perfect tool for collecting intelligence on our enemies, as well as for counterintelligence, and it can be used to retaliate against wrongdoers. We are at the point in which nothing can be believed as real. It is unpredictable how emerging technologies will be used in the future. AI is not an antidote for a lack of common sense, sloppiness, carelessness, and poor judgment. Dysfunctional export controls of advanced technology and other failures to tighten security constitute a serious threat to the Free World and humanity. As if there was not enough to worry about, now there is speculation about scientists creating 'organoid intelligence' (OI) using real human brain cells!