On the road to AGI and the impending collapse of society

I'll preface this by saying I'm a layman and not a researcher in the field of AI, but in the last few days I've been feeling a growing sense of dread about what's happening and what might happen in the next few years. I think humanity is going to face unprecedented challenges and difficulties when it comes to AGI.<br><br>To give you a better idea of what I mean, the GPT-4 update from OpenAI has been nothing short of revolutionary. I think it has the potential to completely change the world and perhaps even make many jobs redundant over the next few years. I honestly think humanity is not ready to handle the implications of such technology.<br><br>There are several factors to consider when thinking about the impact of AGI. If any of the following scenarios come to pass, we will face immense disruptions in our current societal systems.<br><br>(1) The decline of traditional education:<br><br>GPT-4 is poised to disrupt traditional education due to its unprecedented capabilities, particularly in the realm of understanding and generating human-like text. It can already provide detailed explanations of complex topics like quantum physics at the level of a professor, and in the future, we can expect even more advanced capabilities.<br><br>The question arises as to why students should continue to attend school when AI can provide more comprehensive and accurate information on any subject. This is especially pertinent in subjects like math and science, where AI can provide not only theoretical foundations but also practical problem-solving skills.<br><br>The potency of such tools is evident in their ability to ace high school and college-level exams, as well as assist students in completing their assignments more efficiently and effectively. This raises concerns about the relevance and value of traditional education in an era where technology can offer more comprehensive knowledge acquisition.<br><br>(2) Societal collapse and unemployment:<br><br>As AI models become increasingly capable of performing tasks traditionally carried out by humans, there is a growing risk of mass unemployment, particularly in jobs that involve routine or repetitive tasks.<br><br>Currently, AI models like GPT-4 are capable of completing tasks that were previously exclusive to humans. For example, they can create high-quality content such as blog posts, books, music, and videos. They can also handle various administrative tasks, such as data entry, customer service, and even programming.<br><br>This raises significant concerns about the future of work and whether most jobs will eventually become redundant. As AI models become more prevalent and powerful, it's likely that a substantial portion of the human workforce will be replaced, leading to widespread unemployment and a potential breakdown of society.<br><br>(3) Misinformation and manipulation:<br><br>The unprecedented capabilities of GPT-4 also bring concerns about misinformation and manipulation. These models can create highly convincing texts that deceive readers into believing in false information or taking specific actions.<br><br>This issue extends beyond text-based content, as AI is becoming increasingly capable of generating convincing images, videos, and audio recordings. As a result, it's becoming more challenging to differentiate between real and fake content, allowing malicious actors to easily spread false information and manipulate public opinion.<br><br>For instance, GPT-4 can be used to generate fake news articles, social media posts, and even complete books that promote misinformation or propaganda. Additionally, it can create fake images, videos, and audio recordings that are incredibly convincing, further exacerbating the issue of misinformation.<br><br>(4) Ethical and moral dilemmas:<br><br>The development and deployment of AGI also raise significant ethical and moral dilemmas. One of the most pressing concerns is the potential for AI to displace human workers and exacerbate income inequality.<br><br>As AI assumes more tasks that were previously carried out by humans, it's likely that automation will become widespread, leading to a substantial reduction in workforce demand. This could result in a significant portion of the population losing their jobs and source of income, which would have far-reaching economic, political, and social implications.<br><br>Furthermore, there is the issue of whether AI should be granted autonomy and decision-making power. For instance, should AI be allowed to make decisions that affect human lives, such as in healthcare, finance, or law enforcement? This raises questions about accountability, responsibility, and the potential for misuse.<br><br>I want to make it clear that I'm not against AI. It has already done a lot of good for humanity, and in the future, it might do even more. However, I feel like we should stop for a moment and consider the potential implications of such technology.<br><br>In my opinion, we should rethink the way society operates today and prepare ourselves for a world where work is being replaced by automation at a rate that we have never seen before. We should focus on a universal basic income, a change in our education systems, and perhaps a complete overhaul of our societal systems.<br><br>We might have only a few years before we face the consequences of a world where most of the jobs are done by machines. The world is changing so fast, and we should start discussing the implications of such a world.<br><br>Human society is not ready for what is happening right now.