Dealing with artificial intelligence (AI)

SENSENERES

Ike Seneres

Many people are now scared that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) could directly affect them because they could lose their jobs.
    That is actually more than just a possibility now, because it is already happening. There is no way that we could go around AI, because the only way to deal with it is to go heads on with it.
    Right now, I could say that no one really knows what form or shape AI is going to take. I could only say that whatever happens next, we should control AI as a technology, instead of being controlled by it.
    The fear of many people is that the emergence of AI could lead to a battle between mankind and machines. That could happen if we do not control the technology. Perhaps one way to deal with AI is to learn our lessons from how we dealt with nuclear technology.
    Generally speaking, technology is neutral, that means that it could be used for either good or bad, depending on who is controlling it.
    However, the fact that it could be used for bad is no reason to stop it and discard it as it is emerging. When it comes to the management of technology, I propose that the government should separate the developmental functions from the regulatory functions, because there is an inherent conflict of interest between the two.
    One should check each other, to keep a balance that is generally good for the whole society.
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(Author Ramon Ike V. Seneres resumes his column in the Northern Philippine Times this week. Seneres was former director of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Information and Communications Technology Organization (PICTO) and Alliance of Civil Society Institutions, Organizations and Networks (ACSION).
    He was also former Press Attaché, Philippine Embassy to Washington DC and Fellow of University of Life (UL).
Seneres was also former Group Product Manager, Bliss Marketing Corporation (BMC); Brand Coordinator, San Miguel Corporation (SMC); Career Diplomat, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Director General of National Computer Center (NCC).
    He was also Executive Director of National Crime Information System (NCIS), National Computer Institute (NCI), UNDP Transfer of Knowledge Thru Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) and Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) 
    The author was also former Delegate of Science and Technology Advisory Council (STCC)
 and National Information Technology Council (NITC).
    He was also former Chairman of COMELEC Modernization Committee and Commissioner of Philippine Y2K Commission.
Seneres was also former CIO at APEC, PCSO, DFA and NCC. – ed)