Why AI Must be Open

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is one of the most rapidly developing technologies in the world today. It affects everything from financial markets to healthcare and even the way we consume media. There is increasing concern that this technology should not be held solely in the hands of large corporations and universities, but available to everyone in society in order to remain democratic and open. After all, access to AI is access to power, and power should not be held by just a few, but to all people. 

 

Power Belongs to the People

In a free society, power does not belong to a select group of corporations or powerful entities, it belongs to the people. If access to AI is restricted to only a few large businesses and organizations, then it will be difficult for anyone else to contribute or experiment, leading to uniform and restricted innovation. What’s more, if there were to be a global crisis or emergency of some kind, having a larger breadth of control over AI could be potentially dangerous. On the other hand, if it were available to everyone, then it can be used to create novel solutions and to help people in a time of need.

 

The HumanAIties

At this point, it is difficult even to imagine a world where the majority of influential content, be it humor, blogs, podcasts, poems, or novels, was written with the help of AI. It would bring a whole new level of meaning to the term “artificial intelligence”. This would also mean that ideas and stories are being created by a few powerful individuals and entities. Such a scenario could lead to a further silencing of voices, restricted ideas, and censoring of content. To prevent this from happening, AI should be open so that people can create, innovate, and express their own ideas without any limitation or restriction.

 

An AI Revolution

The potential of AI is immense and can be used for both good and for bad. As it slowly enters most aspects of our lives, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that it does not become the private property of a few powerful entities. Instead, it should be open and accessible to everyone, so that we can develop a fairer and more balanced society. Such a shift would create an AI revolution, allowing everyone to have a say and have access to the technology.

 

The Challenges Facing AI being Open

However, achieving open AI is not without its challenges. A major one is balancing the potential conflict between commercial interests and open access. There is a certain inclination towards secrecy and security in the corporate environment, so companies and corporations often feel uncomfortable with opening up their data and AI algorithms. Additionally, legal interpretations of data protection and privacy can often stifle innovation and development, making it difficult to access AI data and algorithms even when freely available. Finally, the technical complexity of code and algorithms can also be a barrier to having open AI.

 

The Possibility of an Open Future

Despite the various challenges facing open AI, there is still a lot of potential for a future where it is open and accessible to everyone. Open-source technology has become increasingly popular in recent years, and with the development of open AI, this could expand even further. AI models and algorithms could become available on a large collaborative platform, allowing open contributions and taking out the need for proprietary software and licensing. This would not only strengthen the open software movement, but also create a fairer and more efficient world where everyone has access to the same information and tools.

 

Access to Power

At the end of the day, access to AI is access to power. If only a select few have access to this power, then their opinions, interests and decisions will often be given preferential treatment. In order to ensure that everyone is able to benefit from AI, it is essential that it remains open and accessible to everyone. This is the only way to ensure that no one is left out and that decisions and choices are based solely on merit.

 

The Future of the Openness of AI

In the future, open AI could form the basis of powerful new economic models and processes. It could revolutionize healthcare, education, energy, and transportation by creating more efficient and less costly systems. Additionally, open AI could be used to create safer and more secure internet systems, creating a fairer and more open world for everyone. Open AI is slowly becoming a reality, thanks to initiatives such as OpenAI, Google’s TensorFlow, and Microsoft’s Cognitive Services. This is only the beginning, however, and with the right collaborations, research and investment, the potential of open AI could be fully realized in the near future. By allowing everyone to have access to this powerful technology, we could create a more open and democratic society where no one is left behind.