The Debate Of AI & Robotics Vs Human Labor: Pros & Cons

Introduction

A typical question in technical circles has developed a debate surrounding the question of whether machines and human beings are in a race. Various authors tackling this issue present both the pros and cons of machines with implications for various aspects of human lives in the social and economic spheres. Fleming, for instance, expresses his concerns regarding the projected job losses owing to advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics making human labor obsolete (2). On the other hand, it is important to consider that technology has always improved human lives and that job loses only lead to the creation of new jobs for people. Essentially, machines cannot exist absent from the labor of man unless they can make themselves and complete tasks that benefit machines and not man. In that regard, machines will not replace humanity (Worstall). With such opinionated perceptions about machines and the future of mankind given the rise of machines, it is no wonder the debate has taken the direction of whether people are in a race against machines. Although machines are increasingly replacing the need for human labor, machines cannot supplement humanity but compliment them in various aspects. Therefore, humanity is not in a race with machines rather in a journey of complimenting human capabilities.

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Computerization is on the rise in that computers come in quite handy when solving mathematical problems as well as performing other tasks that human beings would take longer or more effort to accomplish. For this reason, the dependence of people on computers is increasing in that individuals are often reliant on the efficiency that computers offer in completing tasks (Nouri 199). Nonetheless, computers only do what they are instructed to do and cannot think outside their programming. The principal of garbage-in-garbage-out best explains the inner workings of machines in that they will only produce a result that is as good as the input entered. In other words, bad input will only give out bad output. On the other hand, human beings are capable of critical thinking where even bad input can be reviewed and analyzed to make sound decisions that circumvent bad input. Unlike the human brain that is able to discern a problem and develop a solution, the computer can only solve problems consistent with its programming and, therefore, cannot improvise to develop a solution to a new or unknown problem. For that reason, computers cannot replace people since it is people who will consistently feed computers with instruction on what problems to solve and how to do so. Fleming acknowledges that anxiety regarding technology-caused unemployment is not a novel issue since it has morphed from what was once the fear of industrialization in its infancy where labor was being replaced by mechanization (2). The fear seems to be disproportionate to the threat especially since computerization has only served to make work easier and not replacing the work itself (Worstall). Therefore, technology only compliments human labor not replace it.

Social media is another aspect of technology that has been heavily criticized for its pervasiveness on human social interactions. From accusations such as making people anti-social to creating realities that are out of touch with one's circumstances, social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram are found to be quite damaging to the social health of the individual (Joseph 153). Garam writing for Psychology Today expresses her opinions regarding social media's influence on the happiness levels of users and comes out with a verdict demonizing social media. Garam accuses social media of taking up too much time and replacing face-time with screen time. Further, social media is found to often create expectations that are addictive and yet do not match up with the realities of the user. For instance, posting photos on Instagram makes people wonder whether others have better lives than their own. Photos of people eating out, holidaying and partying creates expectations among admirers and followers but such photos are often inaccurate representations of reality. In her rebuttal to this line of thought, however, Sarah Joseph writes that social media cannot be blamed for poor relationships and weakening social ties. In essence, it is impossible for social media to completely replace face-to-face relationships and conversations. Moreover, social media can be avoided but physical interactions between people come naturally and are unavoidable (Joseph 178). Therefore, the notion that social media as a form of technology is increasingly replacing physical human-relationships is flawed. From the onset, human beings will interact physically first before extending their connection to social media, in most cases (Garam).

Carr ponders on the idea that technology is increasingly making people stupid. By posing the question of whether Google is making us stupid, Carr explores episodes where Google search provides people with instant results on a variety of topics. As such people are prone to making silly searches on the most obnoxious topics whereas such knowledge would come naturally or can be in the form of advice from a friend. Topics such as 'how to surprise your girlfriend' or 'how to make a cup of tea' may at times be too satirical to consider that actual time and energy were spent on Google searching for information on the same. Consequently, people's intelligence continues to dwindle as more Google searches are made pondering the concerns on whether people using Google are increasing in stupidity. Carr notes that as more people read articles on the internet they ultimately depend on the technology for information and are not engaged in deep thinking processes. For that reason, Carr notes that people are becoming more machine dependent. On the contrary, however, Coiro disagrees with Carr's line of thought by proving that adolescents who spend time reading online have improved reading capabilities while reading offline (356). Further, the internet also serves to develop their knowledge upon the prior familiarity of issues with information read on the internet (Coiro 389). To that extent, it is improper to conclude that technology is replacing humanity or that humans are increasingly becoming technical because although that may be true, the relationship between technology and humanity is a symbiotic one and not evolutionary from man to machine.

Recently, discussions on how technology is increasingly influencing behavior have taken center stage in regards to written communication done using mobile phones. Mittal found that texting hurts literary skills with effects such as making students misspell when writing official communication. Further, students are increasingly becoming less knowledgeable about proper grammar and how to effectively present official communication in writing (4). Consequently, the ramifications for intellectual growth capabilities have been negatively impacted as more students struggle to write adequately in the classroom. Grammar, pronunciation, and sentence construction has often been done wrongly by students who are fond of texting using pseudo-modern forms of language popular in texting (Mittal 3). The idea that texting makes people avoid verbal communication is also explored where Mittal notes that people fond of texting would rather express themselves in message form rather than actual speech. Often, people's emojis and expressions in text messages are a mismatch from their actual state of being in reality (4). Although such arguments are quite valid and worth discussion, they are too weak to support the idea that machines such as phones can replace people who use them. The fact that people are text messaging to express their emotions does not equate the fact that people are just socially withdrawn. The choice to express oneself via text messages can be caused by a host of psychological factors that range from shyness to addiction to social media and not that people are replacing themselves with their phones (Garam).

One of the most frightening arguments that are in the public domain pertains to the threat of AI as the intellectual capacity that will soon surpass that of humanity. Artificial intelligence is unlike human intelligence in that it mimics human knowledge growth only that it does so at speed much faster than human beings. As the intelligence of AI grows with time, concerns abound as to whether humanity can match up with the great intellect of AI. Fiction movies have had a significant role to play in spreading fear pertaining to artificial intelligence and the capability that they may have in surpassing human knowledge. In such movies, the human race often ends up being enslaved by the AI and often has to fight to survive annihilation by the machines (Muller 297). Muller further adds that security from the risk of takeover by AI would require that AI is kept docile meaning that its intelligence is capped below that of the intellectual capacity of mankind (298). However, that assurance cannot be given since AI is self-learning intelligence and, therefore, its growth is unceasing. However, Fleming disagrees noting that notion noting that AI should not be feared but instead nurtured and appreciated. That should be done due to the fact that its growth only opens room for collaboration with mankind leading to the evaluation of various developments and advancements in knowledge (3). Moreover, a collaboration between man and machine will be a symbiotic one where AI serves to complement the knowledge of man by gathering more knowledge and improving what is already known by people.

Younes and Al-Zoubi focus on the pros and cons of technology in the endeavor to improve human lives. The authors find that technology presents both positive and negative implications for the wellbeing of humanity (82). Among the advantages of that technology offers people is the attribute of interconnectivity. Through machines, people can communicate instantaneously from one corner of the earth to the other. Machines have allowed a man to move swiftly through air, sea, and land transport networks. Consequently, this advantage serves to make machines friends of humanity rather than competitors. The advent of AI also presents opportunities for knowledge development where man and machine can work to improve the technologies that exist to improve the lives of people (Muller 300). Machines have been critical also in the development of infrastructure that has transformed how people live and work, hence, facilitating people in various spheres of life. Moreover, industries have managed to improve mass production to meet the needs of an ever-growing world population through technological innovation in mechanization (Worstall). Worstall makes an argument that if you follow the trail of technology to its origins you will find the hand of a man working to make the technology which then returns the favor of helping man in various roles. Therefore, the notion that technology is here to replace people is misguided since technology exists because of people.

On the downside, the disadvantages associated with technology and machines are equally of concern to scholars who evaluate them for their implications on the welfare of people. The threat of AI is often associated or linked to malfunctioning of AI due to the fact that AI is a learning intelligence (Muller 299). For this reason, AI is feared because it might cause some form of harm when machines t...