AMERICA AT 250: Computers, the Internet and Artificial Intelligence

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”

 -Popular Mechanics magazine, 1949

The dizzying pace of technological change in the last 20 years has led some people to wonder whether they can even keep up. In the year 2026, it is likely that the person reading this will own not only a personal computer, but also at least a few other technological devices that can easily perform tasks that enormous room-sized computers of the 1950s could not even approach. If you were a computer major in college, perhaps you are comfortable with all these changes. Yet even former computer majors find the current environment, shall we say- a bit challenging to deal with, as new websites pop up every day, computer “hackers” try to lure the unknowing into dangerous transactions and the lexicon of technological terms, devices and services approaches mind-boggling levels. Add in the fact that the Internet today is quite often filled with inaccurate or misleading information- and you get the picture: technology is getting a bit confusing for the average person to keep up with.

The latest evolution of computers is artificial intelligence, commonly termed AI. AI is a process whereby users of computers access huge amounts of information stored on systems around the globe, all linked by the Internet, in answering questions, completing tasks and solving problems. Users of the Internet today can pose a question on Google Search and get an answer back from an AI-generated computer function, meaning the question was sent out to literally millions of computers and databases, where it was “answered” by doing an analysis- often in just seconds- of all the information available on those computers in coming up with a result. One might ask: “What if the data used to answer the question is incorrect or at a minimum, highly misleading?” The answer is the old phrase: “Garbage in, garbage out.” An AI-generated answer may often be highly accurate and produced in an infinitesimal amount of time… but it may also be somewhat inaccurate. Simply sampling thousands of computers does not guarantee that a question will be accurately answered. In fact, regular users of AI can share their experiences where they were given inaccurate or at the very least, somewhat confusing answers to their queries.

Where does that leave us? Today computers and AI functions are so sophisticated, they can produce images and videos of things which are “fake”- making them appear completely real and legitimate. The uses of AI are many and spread across virtually every discipline and industry. Its use in medical research has been helping to solve critical problems in treating diseases by amalgamating enormous amounts of data and analyzing it more thoroughly and efficiently than ever before. Yet, the potential for the destructive use of AI remains challenging. For example: What would happen if a rogue nation or individual created a false, but seemingly totally real image of a missile or suite of missiles about to land on Washington, D.C.? What if someone were to create a fake, but highly realistic video of a well-known person committing a horrific crime? Thinking about the “new era” of computing and AI capabilities is daunting, as the wonderful possibilities for worthwhile achievements must be tempered with the reality that criminal elements may- and at some point will try to use those same capabilities to create harm and chaos. Let’s all hope that effective and sensible “guardrails” will be agreed upon and set up by industry and government to guide us all safely through that future world- where computers themselves will attempt to guide us.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. His 12 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s most recent work is “Sandy Flash and the Trail of History”, showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].