The Potential Issues and Crises of Artificial Intelligence Development
Authors: Li Lingxuan , Li Wenyuan , Wei Dong 
Published: June 2024

Since the time when humans, leveraging 'intelligence,' could contend with and dominate other species on Earth, they have held a dominant position in the relationship with other life forms. The explosive development of artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in limitless possibilities for human society. Simultaneously, the potential issues and crises stemming from its development accompany a myriad of advantages. This study employs literature review and in-depth analysis to categorize the potential problems and crises of AI development into three levels: 'small, medium, and large.' These levels respectively denote the negative impacts AI brings to humanity, the conflicts between AI and humans, and the potential scenario of AI replacing and annihilating humanity.Building upon this hierarchical classification, the article proposes that addressing minor issues, mitigating moderate-scale problems, and remaining vigilant about major challenges are imperative throughout the AI development process. It underscores the need for humanity to solve small problems, alleviate medium-scale issues, and be alert to significant problems. This calls for a reevaluation of the relationship between humans and AI, an awareness of the existence of the 'singularity' in AI development, and a heightened emphasis on preventing potential crises resulting from uncontrolled and intervention-free AI development.In the realm of 'small issues,' the article discusses how the development of AI has led to a decline in the independence of human thought. This is manifested in weakened social skills, diminished memory capabilities, and a reduced capacity for independent decision-making. Furthermore, the potential replacement of non-technical occupations by AI may contribute to a widening gap in employment and wealth. Issues related to information privacy and security become prominent, particularly in fields like science, medicine, and business, where the extensive use of AI for the analysis of sensitive user information poses inherent privacy risks. Additionally, concerns regarding the monopolization of data analysis and the presence of biases and discrimination in algorithms are significant challenges within the context of AI development.The 'medium issues' encompass discussions about the relationship between humans and AI, as well as the prospective trajectory of human civilization coexisting with AI. In the future, AI may attain a status comparable to humans. Questions arise about whether AI is inclined to continue aiding in human civilization's development, fostering a harmonious coexistence between humans and AI, or if AI will give rise to an independent AI civilization detached from human influence. These considerations present challenges to the existing power structures and discourse systems predominantly shaped by human influence.In addressing the 'major challenges,' the article emphasizes the potential occurrence of an 'AI singularity,' a point in time when machine intelligence comprehensively surpasses human intelligence. This scenario could result in humans losing their understanding and control over AI, facing the threat of becoming a secondary species or even encountering existential risks. The article introduces the concept of a 'quiet' period preceding the AI surpassing human intelligence. During this phase, the substantial benefits derived from AI development may induce apathy and relaxation regarding the potential threat of AI dominance.In conclusion, this article offers a comprehensive and systematic perspective, analyzing potential issues and crises at different tiers in the development of AI. It provides a structured framework for addressing these challenges and calls for vigilance in recognizing the potential threats posed by AI. The article underscores the importance of active intervention in technological development within the humanities, encouraging public participation in establishing a public discourse system. This engagement aims to cultivate a more robust human-AI civilization aligned with human needs and core values.