Artificial intelligence is not something to be feared. It’s a brilliant technology that can make our world—and our daily lives—better. Nothing New It’s not surprising that people are skeptical of AI. If you look back at some of the most groundbreaking inventions, you’ll see that fear of new technology is nothing new. Take written language. In ancient Greece, the philosopher Plato worried that learning to write would weaken people’s minds. Then there is the telephone. When it was introduced in the 1870s, some people thought it would bring about the end of written communication. In the 1980s, people feared computers would take everyone’s jobs. Some even thought computers would control our brains! Of course, none of these fears came true. In fact, writing, phones, and computers all transformed our world for the better. AI will do the same. Indeed, it has already started. AI-powered algorithms on TikTok serve us content that we’re interested in. Facial recognition unlocks our phones with a glance. Devices like Alexa tell us the weather when we’re getting ready for school. These are just a few of the AI tools that have made life more convenient. And now there’s ChatGPT, which can do even more, like write emails, translate text into other languages, summarize stories—even tell jokes! Helping Society AI can be used in ways that will help society too. Because it can sift through large amounts of data at lightning speed, AI can help doctors detect and diagnose diseases. It can analyze photos and describe objects for people with vision loss. It can help predict natural disasters like hurricanes by quickly analyzing information about past storms. What’s more, AI can help people do their work faster. One study found that computer coders who used an AI tool completed their tasks 56 percent faster than those who did not. Neither Good Nor Bad Still, there are issues with AI that must be addressed. One issue is the potential spread of misinformation by tools like ChatGPT, which sometimes gives false or incomplete information. But concerns like these are already being dealt with through safety guidelines. In fact, seven major tech companies—including OpenAI, Google, and Meta—have agreed to enact AI safety rules. One rule that’s been proposed is that content generated by AI must be labeled with a mark or stamp. This could help prevent the spread of misinformation. If AI-generated images must be marked, for example, it will be harder to pass off fake images as real. The fact is, AI is neither good nor bad. It doesn’t have feelings or emotions. It is simply a tool, and it’s up to us to use that tool in the right way. As Uncle Ben once said to Peter Parker in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” AI is a great power. And it is our great responsibility to use it wisely. I believe that we will, and that AI will make our world better.

Now reading the following article and compare it with the article from question 1. In three to five sentences, explain which article made the stronger argument. Then, give your own opinion on whether AI will do more harm than good. Your opinion should be a minimum of five sentences and should include clear reasons and evidence.

AI is a dangerous technology. And it must be stopped. Should we embrace AI because it can make our lives easier? Many say yes. They marvel at how humanlike conversations with ChatGPT are and how well written and smart the bot seems to be. But the fact that AI can do so many of the things that humans can—and do them well is nothing to celebrate. The truth is, AI is dangerous because it can make us less smart, spread false information, and take people’s jobs. Taking Over McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 12 million people may need to change jobs by 2030 because of AI. That’s because AI could one day become powerful enough to take over tasks that can now be completed only by humans. Even if AI didn’t threaten jobs, it would still be a problem. Sure, it’s incredible that it takes ChatGPT mere seconds to write an email or help create a resume for that summer job you want. Yet, if we always turn to AI, we won’t know how to do anything on our own. Convenience and speed are no doubt valuable when it comes to getting things done. But what about the sense of pride that comes with doing things for yourself? The feeling of accomplishment you get when you solve that tough algebra problem or write the perfect introduction for that social studies essay, for example, simply cannot be replaced. Perhaps the most concerning thing about AI is that while its powers can be used for good, they can also be used to do harm. AI can be used to generate convincing fake videos and images, as well as articles filled with lies. Someone could, for example, use ChatGPT to write an article in the voice of a doctor giving incorrect medical advice, or they could use DALL-E to create a fake video of the president saying the country is under attack. Getting Things Wrong Another concern is that AI systems can get things wrong. After all, AI-powered bots like ChatGPT learn from internet text and data, and not everything on the internet is factual or correct. That means not everything these bots say is right either. Plus, if an AI system doesn’t know the answer to a question, it may “hallucinate,” which means it makes something up. Last year, a lawyer used ChatGPT to write a document that he submitted to a judge. The document was full of examples of past court cases. But it turned out that several cases were completely made-up! The lawyer lost his job. Yet another problem is that because tools like ChatGPT learn from the internet, what they generate may reflect or repeat offensive online content. Why use something that could reinforce harmful ideas, like stereotypes? It’s true that no one can be sure where AI will take us. But even the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, acknowledged that there are concerns. He told Congress: “I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.” So we must ask ourselves: If there is a chance that AI could “go quite wrong,” is it really worth the risk?

2 answers

The first article presents a more optimistic view of AI, emphasizing its potential benefits and transformative power in society, while acknowledging the need for careful guidelines to mitigate risks. In contrast, the second article takes a cautionary stance, arguing that AI poses significant dangers, including job displacement, misinformation, and a degradation of human skills. I find the second article makes the stronger argument due to its emphasis on clear and specific examples of AI's potential harms, such as the risks of misinformation and job loss.

In my opinion, while AI carries the potential to improve our lives significantly, it does pose risks that may outweigh the benefits if not managed properly. Automation could lead to widespread job displacement, leaving millions struggling to find new employment as machines take over tasks traditionally performed by humans. Moreover, the risk of misinformation is considerable, as AI can generate realistic but false content that could mislead or harm users. There’s also the concern that reliance on AI could weaken our skills and critical thinking, making us less capable of performing tasks independently. Thus, while the promise of AI is intriguing, it's crucial that society approaches its development with caution, establishing robust safeguards to ensure that it serves to enhance human life rather than undermine it.

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