Luddites?

A number of high tech entrepreneurs and scientists are sounding an alarm about artificial intelligence (AI). They are afraid machines will take over and move against humans who will be defenseless. Notable naysayers include Elon Musk and the late Stephen Hawking. Those who work in AI, however, know both its limitations and advantages. It is a long step from AI of today to the rogue computer of “2001: A  Space Odyssey.”  Today’s AI machines are giant data crunchers using algorithms and tens of thousands of examples to perform visual recognition and find patterns. Those who fear them do not understand the massive power AI needs to do the simplest tasks that even children can perform. AI needs better PR, a truthful statement of its merits without hype about what it should be able to do, but can’t — not yet, anyway. With better appreciation of the systems, AI can prove to be a boon to humanity rather than demon technology.