Introduction

Humanity is witnessing a new revolution in the form of AI, and it is changing the ways we operate, communicate, and the way we do business. Artificial Intelligence would be a technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning through data analysis and provide helpful suggestions in view of bringing meaningful change in the world. A beautiful picture being portrayed by many proponents of the AI revolution in today’s digital world, but at the back of this scene lies another reality unknown to many of us.

The Invisible Workforce

AI will replace humans in the near future – this is the debate that comes forward for the past two years, but behind the AI systems lies a hidden workforce of humans. AI is relying more on human capabilities than replacing them as they thrive on data. This data is meticulously labelled, categorized annotated which requires human intelligence and cannot be replaced by a machine. These tasks are performed by workers living in third-world countries which are paid $2 per hour for specific tasks performed like text prediction and recognition of objects. In addition, virtual assistants, marketed as autonomous tools, often rely on invisible workers who may be transcribing audio and viewing disturbing content in order to fine-tune their responses to online search by end users. As a result, workers are routinely exposed to graphic violence, hate speech, child exploitation, and other objectionable material. Such constant exposure can take a toll on their mental health and trigger post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and reduced ability to feel empathy.

The End of Common Sense

AI companies have reduced the term AI to a powerful marketing tool whereby data is at the core of the debate. The way they represent data whereby virtual doctors can provide reliable medical reports, robot lawyers that provide valuable insights, and writers with masterpieces within seconds seems irrefutable in the layman’s eyes. What happens behind the scenes is totally different – AI is not an entity that thinks, understands, or even creates alone – it is a system that mimics data collected. However, the narration of tech companies is built on a concept that the end users believes that the machines knows everything which in reality is only fooling the users.

Conclusion

A tool can either be an aid or a weapon at the same time in the hands of someone manipulating it. AI must be used to serve the betterment of humanity and not exploit the human rights and dignity of humans. AI companies must adhere to a code of ethics and appropriate regulations must be applicable to make sure things are being done in an ethical manner.

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