Can AI be used for good. Is Elon M over reacting when he says ‘That we ought to take a 6 month break from advancement in AI.’ Pope Francis said a couple of days ago ‘AI can be used for good.’ Who is right Elon M and hundreds of other tech grants or Pope Francis. Short answer is they are both right. The wheel is a form of technology, as is the computer. AI  is simply a form of technology a tool. And like all tools it can used well or badly. 

In some ways we have to go back to the Garden of Eden. The original temptation to be like God, to know good and evil. Is our ancient temptation. We want to be the ones to say what is good and evil. Without any limits put on us by God or other. We are tempted to the author of what is good and evil . Now AI like any tool is morally indifferent. But it is how it is used. And if history teaches us anything when we are tempted by the Apple of  knowledge of Good and evil. We fall for it almost every time. 

When Lord Action ushered in the modern age of knowledge with ‘Knowledge is power over nature.’ He was only limited by his ability to have power over nature. But his intention was the same. Knowledge is about having power over nature. AI technology  gives us the ability to what we think is ultimate power over nature. It is illusionary but to us it will feel real.

Think about it. A 10 year old kid with a I Phone has more knowledge in his/her hands than all the books written put together. And what do we do with that knowledge, we watch cat videos. Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. An ounce of wisdom is more valuable than an ocean of  knowledge. 

Pandora’s Box. Is a story from Greek mythology. When a young girl is given a box, but told not to open it. As she did and probably most of us would do she open it. From the box was let loose all the world woes. Pandora box is am image of AI.

The titans of High Tech are somewhat like the mad scientists. The mad scientist are consumed with wanting more and more knowledge. They don’t know how to limit their thirst for knowledge. Which is all the more surprising that the titans of the tech world are so very uncharacteristically the vert one sounding the warming bells.. The very ones who made trillions off  of high tech and the ones who are most likely to earn trillions more, are the very ones sounding the alarm. That ought to give us pause.

So is right Elon M or Pope Francis, both are right? You decide?