In the 1930s, Alan Mathison Turing, a leading cryptologist during World War II, had visualized the “stored-program concept.” It essentially described a machine that possessed limitless memory and could scan whatever data was inputted into it and improve upon that data. This was the first ever concept of artificial intelligence (AI). Though AI is now thought of as robots automatically performing human-like actions and completing work, the cornerstone idea is still the same.

For the remainder of the 20th century, this “modern concept” was believed to be a feared revolution. There were quite a few critics at the time who were completely against the concept. Numerous Hollywood movies were released against the progression of AI, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Terminator, which conveyed the disastrous consequences of artificial intelligence getting too much power.  However, major technology companies invested in the concept of AI, which was especially becoming more popular in the 1980s. For numerous years, the artificial intelligence sector in the information technology (IT) field has been thriving, with many believing in an optimistic future. In fact, it is predicted that in 2027, the AI industry will gross approximately $407 billion, a stark increase from 2022’s revenue estimation of $86.9 billion. In other words, there will be more money invested in the latest, cutting-edge technologies that AI can offer, possibly creating some whose mental capacities could even overtake humans’. If there are no brakes to be placed in order to maintain order in this unregulated progress, then the disasters that once appeared fictional in movies could potentially occur in real life.

Many argue that the code is the cause of the issues. If one can code a machine to act morally right, the machine with artificial intelligence will only behave for the benefit of man, right? Wrong. As mentioned before, even the earliest thought of artificial intelligence stated how it is continually learning, meaning that AI will constantly learn from its surroundings and adapt to accomplish what feels right, regardless of code. Eventually, as shown in the movies, artificial intelligence can surpass humans in intelligence, making them a potential threat in society.

One negative consequence that is more relevant to society today is job loss. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are the industry’s top players, with new ones constantly entering the industry in one place or the other. By completing numerous tasks faster, more efficiently, and drastically cheaper than human resources, it is only natural for managers and higher executives to utilize these tools rather than human workers. This reasoning lies behind the job losses that are heard on the news every day. Some jobs endangered due to AI include clerical/secretarial roles, bank tellers, and data entry clerks. These already low-paid workers who toil every day are now placed out of work, leaving them scrounging for a job that is not promised. Furthermore, they may have to spend money to learn a new skill to earn another job that is more active in the marketplace. However, there is an advantage, too. Jobs for data analysts, machine learning researchers, and other titles related to artificial intelligence will boom (even up to 40%), providing further opportunities to immerse oneself in the field. Unfortunately, the majority of the population is not interested or well-educated enough to pursue these “danger-proof” professions, ultimately causing unemployment to skyrocket.

Now, speaking specifically about our state, approximately 8.9% of workers in Virginia are endangered by job displacement due to AI. With the current population of Virginia being approximately 8.6 million, it means that an estimated 765,400 civilians are prone to the risk of being fired.

Overall, artificial intelligence is a booming multi-billion dollar industry. However, with its progress, consequences follow. Unemployment and AI domination are just two of the numerous disadvantages of the revolution, but if it is used correctly, the world can change for the better. Let us hope for a future where Turing’s stored-program concept will support the human population and benefit society.

Sources from Encyclopedia Britannica, World Economic Forum, Tableau, Forbes, and InsideNoVa.