Time to understand the challenges and opportunities of AI

In the new era of Artificial Intelligence, there was only a debate going on in the world till now on the opportunities and challenges arising from it, but now the time has come to think and act beyond that. This statement of OpenAI chief Sam Altman is very important that humanoid robots and generative AI can soon affect millions of jobs around the world. This warning of Altman is also important because OpenAI is the world's leading company in the field of artificial intelligence. It is engaged in researching and advancing new uses of AI.

No deadline can be fixed for the speed at which AI will replace human labor, but Altman has made it clear that a lot will change in just a year or two. On the one hand, there are immense possibilities of technological innovation - productivity will increase, services will accelerate and employment opportunities will be created in new areas. On the other hand, there are at least 30 crore jobs that can be directly affected by automation. This is a matter of concern. In fact, technological development always brings challenges and risks with it. While technology poses a threat to certain types of professions and work, it also opens the way for many new opportunities. We have learned this from the changes after the industrial revolution.

But, both the opportunities and risks of AI are quite different from before. The most different thing is the speed of its development. The scope of the industrial revolution remained limited to a few countries for centuries. The computer revolution also took decades to spread across the world or say to register a universal presence. During that time, the world gradually kept getting ready to accept it. Jobs were threatened but not suddenly. This is not the case with AI. The basic facility for using AI is present in every home in the form of computers and mobile phones. Even a minor update in AI technology reaches the whole world within minutes. All types of companies, big and small, in the world are ready to welcome AI immediately.

The industrial revolution came as a challenge for the hardworking laborers in the world. It changed the role of workers and gave birth to new thinking. This time AI is coming to challenge not only the 'blue collar' hardworking laborers, but also the 'white collar' intellectuals. AI will also pose a threat to people engaged in creative and analytical work - writing, coding and customer service. This can come as a thunderbolt on countries with young population like India. Therefore, there is a need to prepare seriously in this direction. This preparation should start at the level of basic education itself.