For the last few decades, humans have been able to progress in science to the point that the dreamlike robotic inventions from past sci-fi movies seem within reach of reality. However, there are not only questions about the morality of these rapid developments, but also their practicality.
Artificial intelligence, or the AI, is currently under rapid development and is even already being implemented in certain countries, such as Japan and China. A future in which robots replace people’s jobs seems more imminent than ever before.
Students generally seem to be uneasy regarding these developments, as their future careers are potentially jeopardized.
“The economy and unemployment rates are already bad enough,” a student told JSR. “The AI would just make things worse for the average person. Why can’t more robots for improving the environment be created instead?”
A rising junior also commented, “I want to be a pharmacist. I want to be able to directly make medicine and give it to fellow people. It’s been my dream since seventh grade. But I’ve been getting lots of advice lately to consider otherwise, since AI is getting close to replacing those kinds of pharmacists. Before I know it, my dreams will be shattered, and I’ll have to find something else to prepare for when I get to college.”
Matthew Kim, a rising junior at La Canada High School, expressed, “I’m mixed about this topic because I myself enjoy seeing the technological advancements we possess, yet I don’t like the idea that we are essentially dooming our entire race by relying on such inventions.”
“Over the coming years there undoubtedly will be protests against AI, but if AI is used for the betterment of humanity, like continuing our growth and evolution as a species, I would condone it,” Matthew continued. “Sacrifices are a necessity for growth, and because our population is so large, such sacrifice is only in proportion. And who’s there to denounce the major benefits of having tireless AI domestic workers that can contribute beyond what a human can do?”
As a whole, students have varying views on the AI, but they do seem to generally feel skeptical about the misuse of the AI that may lead to laziness and unemployment of humans. The development of AI is not necessarily something that needs to be stopped altogether, but it is a field which we must explore cautiously.
