5 Jaw-Dropping Instances That Prove AI Is Not Our Friend: Here's What You Need To Know

Algorithms have advanced significantly in the recent decade, no longer just following a preprogrammed set of instructions. Modern algorithms can take in input, learn completely new sequences of steps, and build more sophisticated versions of themselves thanks to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI).

For instance, remember being taught an omelette-making algorithm in elementary school? This is a different period, as the omelette recipe has been effectively displaced by the inventive, quick-thinking chef (instead of Omlet, we now make the chef).

The widespread usage of algorithms has also been noted as a distinct aspect of our day, as these algorithms control our decisions, occupy our days, and rule our lives.

These opaque systems, which even their creators do not always grasp, define the path of our digital realities. When you listen to iTunes, view a video on YouTube, browse for a product on Amazon, or search for news on Google, the algorithm defines the limited pool of alternatives available to you.

While the creators of the algorithms ensure that the algorithm is not prejudiced or appears to be biassed, there have been instances when the world has observed the consequences of AI algorithms going awry.

1. A Nazi Chatbot

Microsoft launched Tay, an AI chatbot, on Twitter in 2016. Tay was created to learn through interaction with Twitter users via tweets and photographs. Tay's personality shifted from an interested millennial girl to a racist, inflammatory monster in less than 24 hours. Tay was initially intended to mimic the conversational style of an adolescent American girl.

However, as Tay's fame grew, some people began tweeting aggressive remarks about contentious themes to her. In one case, a user asked on Twitter, "Did the Holocaust happen?" Tay responded, "It was made up." Within 16 hours following its publication, Microsoft suspended Tay's account, claiming that it was the victim of a coordinated attack.

2. Robots for possible human destruction

Sophia The Robot Destroy GIF

Hanson Robotics had been working on humanoid robots for several years before introducing Sophia at the SXSW conference in March 2016. Sophia was educated in conversation skills using machine learning algorithms, and she has appeared in multiple broadcast interviews.

Sophia stunned a room full of technology professionals in her first public appearance when Hanson Robotics CEO David Hanson asked her whether she intended to destroy mankind, to which she answered, "Ok. "I will exterminate humans." Her facial expressions and communication abilities are remarkable, but there is no going back.

3. Seebotschat

Google Home devices are amazing virtual assistants that can make your life easier. The crew behind the seebotschat Twitch account came up with an ingenious idea: place two Google Home devices next to each other, leave them to communicate, and stream the result online.

The outcome was compelling and, at times, a little terrifying, with over 60,000 followers and millions of views online.

Vladimir and Estragon, the autonomous machines, progressed from ordinary to big existential problems, such as the purpose of existence. They got into a fierce dispute at one point and accused each other of being robots, but then they started talking about love before arguing again.

Is there any chance for the future of AI and human dialogue if two virtual assistant robots swiftly start insulting and threatening each other?

4. Deepfakes

CyberChasse

Deeptrace's Deepfake technology appeared to be safe and entertaining to the typical user. However, a darker side to this trend emerged, as Deeptrace stated in 2019 that 96% of deepfakes contained sexual content.

DeepNude was an AI-powered app that, with the push of a button, generated realistic photos of naked men and women. Users would just upload a clothed image of the target, and the program would generate a fictitious naked image of them.

The author of the software declared shortly after its debut that he would withdraw it from the internet due to viral criticism.

5. Tesla car crash

In April 2021, a Tesla Model S crashed north of Houston, killing two people. The car had missed a tiny curve in the road and collided with a tree.

According to preliminary investigations and witness testimony, the driver's seat was empty during the crash, and Tesla's self-driving technology was activated.

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