Essay: Artificial intelligence leads to decline

Since artificial intelligence is now being used in almost all areas of our society (one example related to the topics discussed here is the shitstorm that broke out over the Dutch band Pestilence when they used cover artwork created by artificial intelligence), I am taking this as an opportunity to express my very critical and yet predominantly negative attitude towards it. Of course, humanity has always continued to evolve. Human labor has been replaced by machines, technical programs replace and/or support people at work or in performing everyday tasks, or even in hobbies or leisure activities. We edit photos with image editing programs and let our cars be guided by navigation devices, use apps for hiking and cycling. We monitor our health data with wearables. The list of these aids, which I also use often and find very useful for the most part, is long. The key difference between this and the use of artificial intelligence is that the aforementioned applications often assist humans, who still do most of the work, as in the case of image editing software. In other areas, machines take over most or (almost) all of the work previously done by humans, but not creative or artistic activities. I admit that the distinction between physical/technical work and intellectual/creative work may be a weak point in my argument, but so be it.

I don't even blame individual companies for increasingly focusing on and promoting the use of artificial intelligence, as I do experience it here in Germany, including in my work. After all, a company that refuses to embrace this development is likely to be at a competitive disadvantage. However, I consider this to be a very negative development for society as a whole—in fact, a catastophe.

Because sooner or later we will lose what defines us as human beings: human development. In the sense that—and the development of artificial intelligence is progressing exponentially—everyone will be able to do everything directly. Without training, without years of effort, without blood, sweat, and tears.

At this point, the often-cited objection will surely arise that artificial intelligence is only a tool that requires human control and guidance. Yes, that is still the case in most instances, but what will the future hold?

At first glance, it may seem great and desirable to be able to achieve everything quickly, often at the touch of a button. Writing an essay? Ask artificial intelligence. There are now entire books that have been written almost exclusively in this way, and yes, you can recognize it—for now.

The proportion of music created using artificial intelligence is steadily increasing. Nowadays, even musical styles that normally require a band to come together, such as drums, guitar(s), bass, and vocals, can be authentically imitated by artificial intelligence. So why bother learning an instrument?

As I said, this may seem tempting in the short term. In the long run, we lose everything that makes us human. If everyone, regardless of their abilities and skills, can create these fast-food products at the touch of a button, what is it still worth? If everyone who previously couldn't write two sentences without mistakes becomes a writer, everyone who can just hold a brush without mistakes becomes a painter, then there is no more inner growth, and even in terms of external prestige, this will no longer be anything special.

If we take this idea further and link it to the concepts of futurism and transhumanism, who knows, perhaps in a few years or decades, with the help of technology applied to or inside the human body, it will be possible to run a marathon in under three hours without any training. But would that really be desirable?

In analogy to John the Savage's famous statement in Aldous Huxley's renowned novel “Brave New World,” which says, “I'm claiming the right to be unhappy,” it should now and in the future be said, “ I'm claiming the right to be unable to do certain things."