Artificial intelligence has the power to change the world – but it is double-edged sword

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reconfiguring the world inconspicuous ways. Data drives our global digital ecosystem, and AI technologies reveal patterns in data. Smartphones, smart homes, and smart cities influence how we live and interact, and AI systems are increasingly involved in recruitment decisions, medical diagnoses, and judicial verdicts. Whether this scenario is utopian or dystopian depends on your perspective.

The potential risks of AI are enumerated repeatedly. Killer robots and mass unemployment are common concerns, while some people even fear human extinction. More optimistic predictions claim that AI will add $15 trillion (£11.7 trillion) to the world economy by 2030, and eventually, lead us to some kind of social nirvana.