ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: WILL IT BECOME THE DOWNFALL OF HUMANITY?

WRITTEN BY SAMUEL O

Why is technology becoming so bad for humans?

Throughout the years of evolution, humankind has evolved in many ways, especially in brain power and cognitive abilities. Humans are starting to become less intelligent and that this trend will only continue in the future, due to many reasons.

First, human intelligence is declining due to our growing reliance on technology. Due to our ever-growing reliance on technology, many people believe that we do not need to use our brains as much as before, leading to its de-evolution This argument concentrates on periods of times when humans were hunters and problem solvers. In these times, we needed to use our brains; cognitive thinking and quick problem-solving skills were our greatest allies. Otherwise, we would not have survived However, modern humans have practically conquered the world. We do not face any resistance or threat to survive from other animals. Therefore, we do not need to use our brains, and instead put much of this burden on technology Nowadays, humans are too dependent on technology and this dependency will only continue to rise as it continues to develop. This will result in future generations becoming less intelligent

Another argument in favour of deevolution explains how there is a comparison of a parents and child’s genes that have revealed that there are 25-65 new mutations in the DNA of each generation This can affect the brain power of future generations, and it is most likely that it will take a turn for the worse

Chapter 1: Is AI making people and future generations less intelligent?

Mutations in children and adults signal that something is changing However, this does not necessarily mean that change is occurring for the better In fact, studies have shown that over half of all genetic diseases have a neurological part to them, which inhibit the cognitive potential of the individual. This statistic shows how genetic mutations, especially relating to the brain, usually lead to decreased function The same study has shown that at least one child in twenty or fifty have sustained a mutation that has decreased their intellectual capabilities This is solid proof that we are de-evolving

When looking at change in the environment, we have had to all come together to battle through it. However, today, times are different Only a minuscule percent of people make the tech that is used globally by everyone, who do not even give it a second thought Before, humans worked in smaller groups This meant every person had a job that was essential for survival, especially when the environment was changing Today, however, although everyone has responsibilities, they usually aren’t life or death (With the exception of key workers e g , police, fire service, doctors,) We can look at global warming as an example Global warming is possibly the biggest threat to humanity However, even though the vast majority of people know about it, who is actually doing anything? We leave it up to governments and Non-Government

Organisations, “powerful people”, to figure out how to get us out of this This method of giving the work to others really highlights how much we are de-evolving When we are finding ways to not use our brains, how can we say we are still evolving?

Chapter 2: What is Artificial Intelligence compared to Human Intelligence?

To understand the difference between AI and Human intelligence, first, we need to know what intelligence is If we give a short definition, then intelligence is the ability to gather information, analyse it, learn from experience, understand, and conclude Due to its natural behaviour, it collects intellectual, cognitive functions like perception, memory, language, and planning

Human intelligence is a property of mind, to take an experience from the past It is the power to adapt to the situation, deal with thoughts, and use themselves and their abilities to get out of a situation The energy efficiency of human intelligence is about 25 watts Humans learn to manage hundreds of skills from their life. Man can make decisions from experienced scenarios, which leads to why mistakes are not often repeated – e g , going back to something that you know does not work, etc

The field of AI (Artificial Intelligence) focuses on designing machines that can mimic human behaviour Robots and AI software use instructions developed by scientists after in-depth study and regular improvements AI research comprises of many tools and insights from many fields It also overlaps for functions such as the central robotics system The energy efficiency of AI is 2 watts in a modern machine or a learning machine It takes time to teach the system on each responsibility There are two types of AI: Weak AI (or Narrow AI) and Strong AI

Weak Artificial Intelligence:This type of Artificial Intelligence is designed to perform a particular task It is the reasonWeak AIcan do only the works it is intended-for It is bound by the rules imposed on it, and it cannot go beyond those rules Apple’s Siri or Windows’ Cortana are excellent examples of Weak AI Weak AI is also called Narrow Artificial Intelligence.

Strong Artificial Intelligence:Strong AI is a system that performs tasks considered to be like humans These are more complex algorithms and programs It can oversee even trickier situations without the intervention of a person You can see such systems in self-driving cars (e g , Tesla) or operation rooms of hospitals (e g , open heart surgery, keyhole surgery, etc.)

Chapter 3: What applications is AI being used in?

AI is used globally now – not just in phones and computers – on a much larger scale

AI in law

Previously, the processing of legal documents was very hectic work, requiring expertise, arduous work, and time. With the help of AI, the processing of legal documents can be done very quickly This enables the firms to concentrate on other aspects, including administration and expansion

AI in manufacturing

AI is also popularly used in the manufacturing industry. Earlier it used to take hundreds of skilled and unskilled men to do a work in any manufacturing sector Now machines with AI capabilities have supplied the forefront to the industry to produce better products in a brief time

AI to take Risks on behalf of Humans

There are many industries and fields which are potentially dangerous for humans Artificial intelligence is used in all those industries and areas, such as mining, space travel, fuel collection, deep-sea exploration, etc Not only this, but these sophisticated devices can also be used to explore the ocean floor as they are beyond the limits of humans, such as Kaiko, an unmanned machine that collects materials from the ocean floor, or Robonaut 2 Robonaut 2 is a dexterous humanoid robot built and designed at NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. The aim of the Robonaut was to help humans take more risks when going out into space The Robonaut (which can be controlled with an advanced and modified VR headset) enables humans to do more dangerous jobs and tasks – e g , fix a module on the ship There are various other sectors, such as radioactive and biohazard product manufacturing industries, where the AIenabled devices are used to enforce human safety

AI in healthcare

The most significant use of AI is in the healthcare industry. The biggest challenge here is how we can treat patients better and at the lowest possible cost Therefore, now companies are using AI in hospitals so that the patient can get better treatment For example, small AI programs called Health Assistants are also available for consultation in common health-related issues

AI in education

Now with the help of AI, grading and evaluations can be automated, which will give the educators more time to focus on tutoring their children With AI, the weaknesses of a student can be easily assessed A student that is weak in a particular subject or even a section of those subjects can be determined so that a perfect study plan can be prepared for that student. Now students can find answers to any of their queries with the help of AI Tutors by sitting at home; this increases the interest in studying as well

Chapter 4: Statistics

A recent survey I took showed that a staggering 72% of teenagers under the age

The use of AI in work has increased by 86% in the past 10 years and $118 billion has been spent during 2020-2022 alone in support of AI development The use of AI isn’t just impacting workspaces, it affects many other aspects. Take shopping, for example. Most supermarkets have replaced human cashiers with automated tills For food, you can order online from the comfort of your home (DeliverooTM, Just EatTM, etc )

Conclusion: What will we do next?

The use of AI is rapidly increasing, becoming accessible in almost every electrical device – from Siri on an iPhone to ChatGPT on computers and laptops. We have already spent almost $118 billion on AI and technological investments that have been implemented in businesses, schools and many other workplaces Many scientists and engineers including Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have predicted what will happen if we continue investing in AI Stephen Hawking once said, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” This is a powerful quote as it contrasts the idea that the one thing that modern humans were given as an ability has been transformed and replicated into Artificial Intelligence, which can rapidly learn any skill presented to it Elon Musk also said, in an interview that ‘AI is the most dangerous threat to life on Earth

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose this essay theme as I’ve always taken an interest in history I’ve heard the term “The special relationship” used in the news The theme allowed me to explore both current and historical events between the two nations, researching the topic to form my own views and opinions on the subject

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

At the moment I’m not entirely sure what I want to do when I’m older, however I have an interest in going into either finance

I have chosen economics as one of my GCSE options for next year - or running my own business

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

I’ve always looked up to people who work hard to achieve their goals in all walks of life as this is a characteristic I really admire For instance, in the world of sport, Cristiano Ronaldo has worked incredibly hard to be as fit as he is and playing at the level he does at the age of 38 – but also his dedication to get to be arguably the best player of all time shows just how hard working he was to achieve what he wanted to As well as this, I really respect people who help others, for example, during covid all the key workers, who despite the virus still did their jobs (be it working for the NHS, in education or delivering food and other essentials) because they knew everybody needed it

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

When I’m older, I would like to be an automotive engineer, or something to do with maths and science, or even computer science The most important factor, however, is that I my job fulfilling

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

My role models are my parents because they are smart and supportive of my endeavors They also teach me lots of new, inspiring things

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I decided to write my essay about aliens because I have always been interested in them and thought that it would be a good opportunity to learn more about them

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

My role models are my parents because they are very clever and teach me lots of important things

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE SCHOLARS' PROGRAMME?

I enjoy the afterschool sessions, because they are insightful and interesting

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

Outside of school, I play two musical instruments, those being the drums and the electric guitar In addition, I play hockey twice a week and I am a part of a team

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE SCHOLARS' PROGRAMME?

I enjoy doing the after-school scholars’ sessions because it is fun to learn new things which I never knew before, and it is also fun because I can do it with my friends

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

I have been doing tennis out of school for about seven years at the local tennis club I have also just started doing a bouldering club on Saturdays

HARVEY H

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose the topic “Is crypto a legitimate currency ” as recently I have experienced many encounters on apps involving many uses of crypto which got me quite interested, this then lead on to my looking into crypto and allowing me to potential invest in it myself Then, my essay popped up and an idea sparked in my head to help create multiple benefits, forcing me to make an amazing essay while learn all that is needed for me to potentially pursue in crypto trading

What Do You Want To Do In

YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

My main aim for when I am older is to become a professional footballer due to my love and passion for the sport however the slim chances doesn’t always goes everyone ’ s way so on the academic side I would love to pursue a career in either engineering or architecture

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

As well as being an Academic Award Holder at Lingfield College I am also a Sports Scholar here, allowing me to take part in many sport activities with my main being football With me competing for 2 clubs

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose this topic because I usually think about how we are rapidly advancing in technological development – for example, non-human cashiers in shops.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

My role model is probably Stephen Hawking because of his ground-breaking studies and theories about the field of astronomy

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

SAMUEL O

I would love to go to space and work on the ISS before it is removed from its orbit

I take singing lessons at school, and I frequently enter writing competitions

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose this essay theme because I’ve heard debates online about this question and wanted to attempt to answer it for myself I also thought it was interesting and a challenging-enough topic to select as the basis for my essay

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

I would like to go to a (still undecided) university in Scotland as some of them have great maritime degrees, as I want to become a yacht captain, starting from a deckhand

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE SCHOLAR'S PROGRAMME?

I enjoy the sessions after school as they aren’t like an average lesson, most of the time they are fun and interactive, such as completing escape rooms created by the sixth form

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

I’m involved in sea cadets and air cadets which enables me to become an instructor in activities like sailing and kayaking, and they also allow me to get licenses for different boats and planes

MABEL W

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS ESSAY THEME?

I chose my essay theme as I feel that the environment is a very important topic at the moment and wanted to do my own research on how the Earth is being affected by fossil fuels

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU’RE OLDER?

I want to work as a detective

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

Someone I’m inspired by is David Attenborough as he spends so much time educating and exploring the planet

WHAT OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

I play netball for a club outside of school