Written by Stella Machel

In a recent interview in Davos, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, was asked by the editor-in-chief of the Economist about the uncertainty that AI poses for humanity. In response, he mentioned that, when revisiting historical accounts of technological revolutions, he noticed a frequent discrepancy between experts' predictions and the actual outcomes. While some tech leaders share Altman's optimistic stance, others remain sceptical about safety in a world where machines surpass human intelligence. Concerns around AI range from job displacement to ethical considerations, such as the risks of concentrated AI power and human rights and privacy. This diversity of viewpoints inspired me to dive into data collection to form my own opinion, and I am eager to share some of my findings with you, so that you can form yours.

What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the technology that allows computers and machines to simulate human behaviour and perform tasks driven by intelligence, such as learning, reasoning logically and solving problems. Based on capabilities, there are two main categories of artificial intelligence: weak AI and strong AI. Weak AI, also known as narrow AI, is tailored to perform specific tasks, as can be seen in virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Strong AI encompasses artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI). AGI is a form of AI with human-like intellect, while ASI surpasses human intelligence. Although largely theoretical, experts anticipate the emergence of strong AI by 2060.

What do different experts think about AI?
There is a widespread consensus on the positive social impacts of AI, from medicine to transport, by way of ChatGPT. However, the transition to strong AI raises a mixture of scepticism and enthusiasm due to its rivalry with human intelligence. In a 2023 interview with Fox News, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, emphasised the potential uncertainty that arises when something more intelligent than humans appears. Musk advocated government oversight, highlighting the need to prevent actions that could endanger public safety. The European Union was the first to respond to the AI regulatory gap, on 15 March 2024, by enacting the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, dedicated to regulating and categorising AI systems based on the risk they pose to fundamental rights and users' safety. The US government followed suit, instructing all its agencies to appoint Chief AI Officers, a trend mirrored in the private sector with the emergence of the role of Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO). Musk's cautious stance is aligned with Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI, who warned against the risks associated with AI during a BBC interview in May 2023. He highlighted the fundamental difference between biological and digital intelligence, underlining the vast knowledge-sharing capabilities of digital systems. Drawing an analogy, he said "it's as if you had 10,000 people and, whenever one person learned something, everyone automatically knew it".
In contrast, Jeff Bezos, speaking at a technology conference in 2018, maintained an optimistic stance on technology. While acknowledging the dual nature of technology throughout history, he highlighted the importance of embracing progress. "The last thing we want to do is stop the progress of new technologies, even when they are dual-use", he said.

The AI revolution in context
Concerns about AI-driven labour disruption are substantiated by experts, who estimate that around 50% of jobs are at risk, particularly white-collar ones, as they are more susceptible to replacement by software.

Despite the fear of unprecedented disruption, the history of technological evolution has seen some events similar to the AI revolution, such as the inventions of the steam engine, electricity and the computer. Each innovation reshaped societies, displaced some industries and created others, while paving the way for subsequent advances. The invention of electricity made automation possible, laying the foundations for the modern communication infrastructure, essential to the development of the computer and, subsequently, of AI. Thus, humanity made net gains by handing muscle work over to machines and by automating the human thinking process. But the looming unknown is the impact of handing cognitive power and the supremacy of human intelligence over to machines.

Should Mozambicans be worried about AI?
Absolutely. In my opinion, Mozambique is currently experiencing the benefits of AI in limited sectors, such as multinationals, communication and finance, and a few other sectors that can afford to invest in technology, as well as through the 23% of Mozambicans who have internet access and can afford smartphones to access technologies such as Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT, etc. On the other hand, one of the most significant AI-driven risks we face is disinformation, exemplified by the proliferation of AI-manipulated content, such as deepfake videos. With this in mind, it is imperative that we always check the content we consume.

Moreover, as a nation we have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the pioneers and allocate resources wisely. We have some catching up to do with earlier technological advances, such as providing universal access to electricity (40% of Mozambicans have access to electricity), computers and the internet. In the meantime, we can prepare for the inevitable AI-driven future by focusing on training a generation of AI technology creators, leaders, users and regulators to safeguard the wider public interest.

In conclusion, I leave you with some questions for reflection: Is your dream job at risk of extinction because of AI? As a parent, what conversations are you having with your children about their future professions? And, if you are an experienced professional, is your job wholly or partly replaceable by AI? A Google search can be very useful!