Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does it actually work? How was the language model taught to converse? Does artificial intelligence have a will of its own? Could technology displace humans, and could it even become more intelligent than its creator? These questions were discussed in an interview with Balázs Szegedy, head of the Artificial Intelligence Department at Rényi Institute. The piece appeared Szabad Föld, a Hungarian weekly magazine both online and in print.
“As a result of the computing revolution, a healthy division of labor emerged between humans and machines: computers performed well in exact tasks, while humans excelled in areas requiring creativity. Artificial intelligence is different in that it is now ‘competing’ with humans even in these areas. In principle, the process could reach a point where we are pushed out of creative and generative activities despite the fact that these are essential elements for a human to feel fulfillment,” says Professor Balázs Szegedy.
When asked to what an extent reaching this point depends on humans versus machines, he responded:
“Humans are inherently prone to a certain degree of laziness. As a result, we will increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, because using it allows us to complete tasks faster – even creative ones. Many experts warn, for example, of a crisis in education. Students find it more convenient to have their homework written by AI, and teachers may find it more convenient to have it read or evaluated by AI. But in this process, children do not learn. One of the biggest problems today is that many people do not fully understand what we are dealing with: what the capabilities of AI are, and what its limits are. To make informed decisions, we need to understand what is happening around us. That is why AI should be discussed not only as a technological issue, but also as a societal one. I believe we are at a moment when humanity’s path could branch in several directions, and it would be a serious mistake to get it wrong. If societies cannot adapt quickly enough to changes of this magnitude, it may lead to tensions, conflicts, or even violence.”
The full interview is available HERE in Hungarian.
