THE TRANSFORMATION OF "ARTIFICIAL" SCIENCE INTO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: 50 YEARS LATER

Abstract

For years, experts have warned against the unanticipated effects of general artificial intelligence (AI) on society. Ray Kurzweil (1998, 2005) predicts that by 2029 intelligent machines will be able to outsmart human beings. Stephen Hawking argues that “once humans develop full AI; it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate”. Elon Musk warns that AI may constitute a “fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization”. If the problems of incorporating AI in manufacture and service operations, i.e. using smart machines, are smaller, as the ‘faults’ can be recognized relatively quickly and they do not have a drastic effect on society, then the incorporation of AI in society and especially in the educational process is an extremely risky business that requires a thorough consideration. The consequences of mistakes in this endeavour could be catastrophic and long-term, as the results can be seen only after many years.