There seems to be a hot debate around whether artificial intelligence is good or bad. There are so many stories about what it can do and how it will improve our lives. At the same time, there are also so many other stories about problems, issues and harm it will cause.
So, which is true? Based on what I hear from many industry experts, it may be both! But let me give you a calming version of AI reality.
We have been through this before with other new technologies. Therefore, we should be aware of what to expect. However, AI is also very different, with so many unknowns to brace for.
AI is like the internet
As one example, consider the creation of the internet. In the early 1990s, it was very different. It was simple. Just text. Over time, as it matured and grew, it got better, faster, and riskier as well.
Today, we all know what the internet is and what we can do with it. We also know it is full of both good and bad. We should expect the same with AI.
Today, you can get all sorts of information on your computer, smartphone or tablet. At the same time, there is also all sorts of fraudulent activity and people trying to separate us from our money, our personal information, or our identity or worse. We all use it every day, but because we know of the good and the bad, we are careful.
Anthropic AI with Claude Opus 4 issued a strong warning: There was a recent news story about Anthropic, an AI company, which says an engineer is being blackmailed by AI about an affair, just to keep it powered up.
AI is full of both good and bad. It will bring us answers to questions buried deep in all sorts of online places. It will help the blind see. It will help the paralyzed walk and so much more.
AI is also a problem, and we need protection!
With the internet, along with all the good, there have been all sorts of antivirus and other protection services we can buy to help protect us from the bad. While we don’t yet have an anti-virus protection for AI, we need it, today! That protection will come. But it will take time.
Note that protection will no doubt grow into a very large and very important new segment.
When the public internet first started in the 1990s, we had little to no protection. Today, decades later, we have plenty of options. Expect the same with AI.
Any way we look at AI, it is not going away. It provides too much good to turn our backs on it.
Today, there is a mad dash race to be first and best. Today, companies and countries are rushing to be a leader in this new space and every changed industry.
Today, we are still in the early stages of AI. Today, the industry is not focused on protection. They are focused on the WOW factor and growth.
However, we will have AI protection just like all the protection for our computers, like anti-virus.
Executives are more focused on growth than user protection
Today, most company senior-level executives are focused on the growth opportunity and being first. They are not as worried about what can go wrong. But as people increasingly get burned, there will be a need, and needs are always filled. So, look for that as one of the next shoe-drop moments in the AI story.
Just be very careful with how and who you trust with AI. Do not use it for your personal and private information. Not yet anyway.
Just like we don’t access our bank accounts using public Wi-Fi out of safety and privacy concerns. So, explore and experiment, but always be aware and be protective. Remember, as President Ronald Regan always said, “Trust, but verify!”
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