The Problem With AI

On November 30, 2022, Sam Altman announced the arrival of ChatGPT, sparking widespread interest in artificial intelligence. People are divided on whether AI will bring about the end of humanity or replace our jobs. However, the real problem with AI lies in another area: human intelligence. While AI has become a valuable tool for various tasks, such as coding, writing, research, and design, there is growing concern that we may be overreliant on it.

As AI becomes more prevalent, people are increasingly dependent on it for everything, which raises the question of whether this dependence could lead to the decline of human intelligence. AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance our intelligence, not replace it. Unfortunately, many people are treating AI as a substitute for their own thinking and understanding.

With the rise of AI, the distinction between right and wrong is becoming increasingly blurred. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, people are less likely to verify its accuracy. This gap between producing content and understanding it is growing wider. Another issue is the illusion of competence that AI creates. People may believe they are skilled when, in reality, they lack a true understanding of the subject matter.

For example, someone with no coding experience can quickly create a working web app using AI tools like Codex. However, they may not understand how the app or the code works. This can be dangerous, especially in technical fields, where understanding the domain is crucial. When something goes wrong or needs to be changed, what happens if AI can't fix it?

This brings up the question: should we rely on AI for everything? While AI has its benefits, such as speeding up learning and enabling users to explore complex concepts, we must be cautious about overreliance. It is essential to understand what AI is doing and not let it overshadow our own results. Ultimately, what sets us apart from AI is our understanding, judgment, and creativity.

The problem with AI is not that it can do too much; it's that we may be using it without fully grasping its capabilities. To harness the power of AI without risking our own intelligence, we must learn to use it wisely and not allow it to overshadow our own understanding and expertise.