OPINION:
In “The revolution in artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence” (web, May 12), Newt Gingrich enthuses that on the threshold of generalized artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence, “We are at the edge of enormous opportunity.”
Open wide your doors! Well, in rural Georgia, folks who open wide their doors and windows usually have adequate screens in place beforehand.
Mr. Gingrich indicates some of the Industrial Revolution’s benefits but leaves out its exploitative imbalances and injustices. In one example, Thomas Edison is credited as eliminating darkness. True, but to achieve his invention, Edison sacrificed his marriage. So as you gaze on the light in your window this evening, you might think, “This is for you, Mrs. Edison.”
In Edison’s time, there were several scientists investigating light-emitting filaments. If Edison had not found success, someone else would have. Several scientific breakthroughs came in the context of simultaneous, competing research on a common problem. Some successes were pure serendipity, such as Nobel’s discovery of nitroglycerin.
I believe Everett Piper (“Freedom requires fences,” web, May 11) would suggest a few fences be installed before venturing into Mr. Gingrich’s brave new AI world. But what Mr. Piper doesn’t mention is the very important fact that man on his own would not and cannot discover valid moral guides. Just as human spiritual growth requires divine guidance, so, too, should AI be similarly informed. Mr. Gingrich’s AI house, thus screened, would be “free,” clear of nasty bugs and other creepy things.
Instead of leaving AI development open to the ambitious and exploitative, isn’t it time now to direct AI toward such universal goals as adequate employment, ample food resources and domestic peace?
RUSS BREIGHNER
Arlington, Virginia
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