The Cost of Human Intelligence and the Democratization of Knowledge in the Age of AI
I am sharing a passage from Andrew Ng’s newsletter that struck me because it offers an unprecedented perspective on intelligence as I had never considered intelligence as a cost.
[…] But when I speak with regulators, media, and private citizens, I like to bring the issue of whether AI is beneficial or harmful back to a very basic question: Are we better off with more, or less, intelligence in the world?
[…] a major driver of civilization’s progress has been people getting smarter and more educated. Until now, human intelligence has been the primary form of intelligence available. But with artificial intelligence, we have the opportunity to bring much more intelligence into the world.
[…] Historically, intelligence has been very expensive to acquire. It costs a lot to feed, raise, and train a broadly knowledgeable and experienced human being! That’s why it’s so expensive to hire intelligence, such as a highly skilled doctor to examine and advise you on a medical condition, or a patient tutor who can understand your child and gently coach them where they need help. But with artificial intelligence, we have the potential to make intelligence cheap for everyone, so you no longer have to worry about a huge bill for seeing a doctor or educating your child.
Andrew Ng, for those who don’t know, is one of the most renowned experts in the field of artificial intelligence (he co-founded the Google Brain project) and is known for his progressive vision and pragmatic approach to artificial intelligence, believing firmly in AI’s potential to transform industries and improve quality of life, while always remembering the importance of ethical and responsible AI. He is driven by the belief that AI should be accessible and understandable to everyone, not just industry experts, and for this reason, he is also the co-founder of Coursera and Deeplearning.ai.
So, thinking about the concept of intelligence as a cost presents us with a fundamental reflection: is it better to have more or less intelligence in the world? This question is crucial when evaluating the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI). In his newsletter, Andrew Ng considers AI not just as an advanced technology but as a concrete possibility to increase the intelligence available in the world. He also emphasizes that one of the main drivers of the progress of civilization has been the increase in people’s intelligence and education. So far, human intelligence has been the primary form of intelligence available. However, with the advent of AI, we have the opportunity to significantly increase the amount of intelligence in the world.
Historically, the acquisition of intelligence has been extremely costly. Feeding, raising, and training a highly educated and competent human being requires considerable resources. This is evident in the high costs associated with hiring qualified professionals, such as expert doctors or patient tutors, who can provide personalized education. For example, a highly qualified doctor requires years of training and specialization, which translates into high costs for patients. Similarly, a tutor capable of understanding and individually supporting a student requires a significant investment.
With artificial intelligence, however, there is the potential to make intelligence accessible and affordable for everyone. AI can break down the economic barriers that have traditionally limited access to intelligence and skills. Imagine a world where you no longer have to worry about huge costs to consult a doctor or educate a child. AI can provide medical assistance and personalized education at very low costs, thereby democratizing access to intellectual resources.
These are certainly controversial topics, as, before thinking about making AI accessible to everyone, it must first become more reliable, with fewer hallucinations, and less energy-hungry. In fact, an artificial intelligence that makes serious mistakes or generates misleading information can cause significant harm, especially in critical areas like medicine or education. Moreover, the need for large amounts of energy to operate, besides raising inevitable environmental concerns, could also limit the accessibility of the technology, as high operational costs could prevent its widespread adoption.
But it is also good to remember that we are only at the beginning of this revolutionary era. When AI finally becomes truly more sustainable and accessible, as well as safer and more reliable, only then will we achieve a true democratization of intelligence, which will be truly beneficial for all and fully integrated into society.
English translation of an italian post that was originally published on Levysoft.it
