AI Advances Rapidly, Experts Predict Machines May Take Over 80% of Jobs!
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According to a recent AFP report, renowned artificial intelligence expert Ben Goertzel believes AI will replace 80% of human jobs.
Ben Goertzel, a Brazilian-American AI researcher, stated that in the coming years, artificial intelligence may replace 80% of human jobs—but this is a good thing.
The 56-year-old mathematician, cognitive scientist, and robotics creator is the founder and CEO of SingularityNET, a research organization dedicated to developing "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI) with human-like cognitive abilities. Goertzel claims that AGI is only a few years away and has publicly opposed recent efforts to curb AI research. AFP conducted an exclusive interview with Goertzel, excerpts of which are as follows:
AFP Question: How far are we from achieving AI with human-level cognitive abilities?
Ben Goertzel: If we want machines to be truly as intelligent as humans, equally adept at handling unknown situations, they need to make a significant leap beyond current training and programming. We're not there yet. But I believe there's reason to think we're only years, not decades, away from achieving this goal.
Q: Isn't the potential replacement of human jobs a threat?
A: My guess is that without AGI, 80% of human jobs would still become obsolete. I don't see this as a threat. I think it's a benefit. People could find better ways to live rather than just working to survive... Almost all paperwork-related jobs should be automated. The problem I see is that during this transition, AI is eliminating human jobs one after another... I don't know (how) to solve all these societal issues.
Q: What can robots do for society today, and what more could they do if AGI is achieved?
A: There's a lot you can do with AI. For example, we showcased the nurse robot Grace at the Web Summit in Rio. In the U.S., many elderly people sit alone in nursing homes. Their material conditions—medical care, food, big-screen TVs—aren't bad, but they lack emotional and social support. So, equipping nursing homes with humanoid robots that can answer questions, listen to stories, help call family, or order things online would improve lives. Once AGI is achieved, they could become even better companions. This isn't about replacing jobs—it's mainly because there aren't enough people willing to work in caregiving. I believe education and domestic services will also be huge markets for humanoid robots.
Q: What regulations are needed to ensure AI has a positive impact?
A: We need AI to do beneficial things. Governance of AI should involve public participation to some extent. All this is technically possible. The issue is that companies funding most AI research don't care about doing good—they care about maximizing shareholder value.