Development of AI and the Future

One of the most recent issues is the match between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol. This match was the match of the century. Many people were concerned with it while supporting Lee. The end result was not good, but nobody criticized him. Why? Because people focus on feeling that can be possessed by only people. People have limits, but people who have reached the limit are not a failure or renouncer. They grow continuously.

What is AlphaGo (maybe Who is the AlphaGo)? AlphaGo was made by Google Deepmind. Deepmind is an AI developer founded in 2010. Deepmind wants to produce an AI machine that can be used in every department including games. Google took over the company in 2014. AlphaGo is an artificial intelligence (AI) Go program. Deepmind thinks AI can work like a person. Thus, they think over creative work that only people do it. Deepmind pays attention to games, for example, video games and Go games which demand creative plays. A number of cases exist and a player’s personality is clear. Alpha (α) means first, which is first letter in Greek alphabet and Go means Baduk. As it were, AlphaGo means the first Go. It is the first computer program to ever beat a professional player in the game of Go.

How did AlphaGo win Lee? AlphaGo’s initial level was inferior to the world class Go players, but AlphaGo has just enough time to develop its skills. What’s the reason? Precisely, machine learning is the answer. Machine learning is necessary requisite for AI. Suppose one player plays Go 1,000 times a year whereas AlphaGo can play Go 1,000 times more than human players. If a normal people can do that, they can become the god in the game of Go. AlphaGo has developed patience and effort in addition to characteristics of a machine.

AlphaGo suggests that future society may be developed around AI. Maybe a person will be superseded by AI. Many people worry about it. Many careers will disappear and will be replaced by AI. Particularly, technical post jobs are expected to disappear in the near future. Not only technical post but also occupations depending on public favor, for example, an accountant, are expected to disappear. In the near future, careers that disappear into our memories will substantially increase. Many people are scared about it. They will be unemployed and social structure will change. Comfort and profit will increase more than now. According to many SF (science fiction) films and novels, AI has a development risk. Naturally, AI developers don’t put the intention of AI’s ruling over people. Then, how does AI threaten people? First, think about only a handful of people doing something. Creativeness is the human’s main attribute. Recently, society emphasizes creativeness. Careers that require creative thinking will not disappear, but become popular and desirable jobs. Many people want to get creative jobs.

AI gives us important implication. Some people think a machine will win people in every area and everything will lose its meaning; however, that is not true. People make the machines and change. We accept the change as it has been continuously.