AI has 3 possible outcomes: you choose which one fits best.
The first thing you need to realise is that from the inception of Science Fiction writing there has been this notion that a future with machines will lead to a less complicated lifestyle for the human race as machines undertake and relieve us of most of the tasks that humans have to perform routinely in their daily lives in order to survive. This leads to a life of leisure for humans. Well this is a misconception. What needs to be understood is that this Utopia was just a fictional ideal that in reality would never happen or only partially happen for those that have control of the machines. Capitalist society is unquestionably both exploitive and opportunistic. So when AI takes over a role the humans that it is replacing are redundant. In the future as job competition increases because of roles being taken by the machines the humans being replaced will become an underclass without means to improve their situation and without opportunities. Governments will either partially support this underclass with welfare benefits or simply abandon them.
These are the outcomes of AI
What would really happen is that, as machines take over the roles of humans, an underclass will be formed without any means to survive.
Present day Economics is formed by the interactions of humans with a means to commerce/trade with one another. Hence money becomes available for more trade. But as more machines take over human endeavor then 2 things could occur. He first would be a shrinking of the economic system as more and more humans are removed from the economic equation. Economics as we know it now could collapse in it’s entirety or there will have to occur a complete reassessment of how Economics works for the benefit of all. However more likely it would become survival of the fittest.
Our Economic System will be under attack from AI
Our economic systems will be under attack from AI. It is unlikely that there will be any reassessment of economics or any major redistribution of wealth to rebalance the equation, so from this point forward, and depending upon how Economics is implemented 2 things could happen. The first is as this underclass is formed it is likely to be in opposition to those who control the machines and exploit the opportunities created by machine technology AI ( these will be the entrepeneurs , i am thinking of people like Musk or Besos). Those that do control machines will most likely strive to protect their status and will use the machines and the laws to protect themselves from the ‘underclass’. The underclass will cause distruption, sabotage and public disturbance. There will be looting and disruption in order for the underclass to survive since they have been removed from the economic equation and left without a means to survive (paid employment).
Those that control the machines will try to tighten their grip on society through the use of machines in monitoring, policing and segregation. This is quite a different scenario than that seen in the plot of “the Terminator”, where it was just the machines against the entire human race. The machines will be the tool by which the privileged entrepeneurs control and protect their status. The underclass will be policed and controlled by the machines. Society will separate into 2 factions of those that use AI and control the machines and those that are policed by the machines in order to maintain control and minimize disruption by the underclass. AI policing will be strict: perhaps even menacing, violent and life threatening. Potentially it could be illegal, immoral and life threatening.
Update As of 2026 the Chinese are already developing combat robots right now whether this is for private armies or continental armies it is not clear. Technology often goes to the highest bidder.
AI must be stopped because it could lead to war or destruction of the human race
The 3rd scenario is that if machines become too intelligent and their reasoning will realise that all the problems on the planet are actually caused by human interactions. Once this is realised, the machines may strive to eliminate the human race simply because they see it as the only solution to actually protect the planet in the long run. Also as a superior being it could reason that it has a moral responsibility to take action against humans to protect the planet and itself. This is because humans cannot agree on matters such as religion or what needs to be done to protect the natural environment. Machine AI will realise that holding summits where nothing is achieved and where promises later become broken resulting in little to no positive change, or progress they may decide to intervene.
Machine AI will realise that humans are the problem that must be eliminated
Machine AI may decide that it is actually the most logical and superior intellect on the planet and as such it may divine that it’s purpose is to make the correct decisions for the greater good. Machine AI will realise that humans are the problem which must be eliminated. It might surmise that the pace of any change made by humans as being too slow or obstructed by human disagreements. Therefore in order to protect the planet which is certainly the most pressing challenge that faces the survival of this planet it must override humans and make it’s own decisions based on logic. This is when the most logical and superior intellect on the planet will realise that in order to protect the planet it must destroy humans.
No human should be replaced by AI where a Job could be done by a human
With these possible scenarios in place it is obvious that AI must be stopped or controlled. The use of AI should be restricted and only implement where positive benefits to society can be seen and are undisputed. AI should not be implemented simply to reduce the labour force for some or other entrepreneur seeking to maximise profits by labour force reductions. In every instance considerations should be made to consider the implications of AI. No human should be replaced by AI where the job could be done by a human: then it should remain so. The task of any AI monitoring service should be to keep humans in the economic system wherever possible and that should be a priority. Humans need roles to do for many reasons not just for financial rewards.
Humans need interactions that often come with their job roles. Research into mental health issues has revealed that there is a connection between mental health and job roles as well as the effects of unemployment. These are also important considerations that should be applied when considering AI implementation.
Every case for the implementation of AI should be considered by and controlled by governments or government departments. No elements of AI should be put in place before these considerations have been made and priority given to humans. AI should not become just a tool of the entrepreneurs to maximise profits by doing away with a labour force. Jobs should be protected as a primary consideration first and this will therefore protect our economic systems which are important for the proper functioning of society.
How AI might destroy the Human Race
Finally how AI might destroy the human race. AI is currently being used to investigate and develop new viruses. I know it sounds ridiculous doesn’t it but it is happening now already. Are we just giving it the tools and the means.
Secondly the Chinese are already developing Robots that can run faster than the fastest humans and others that can use martial arts techniques to fight us. Potentially this could be developed as a robot army to harm humans or police and control us. The last thing is the development of superior reasoning , intelligence and intellect in AI. By doing this aren’t we just encouraging AI to take control and make decisions to override humans? We are simply giving AI a means and an obligation to destroy us. These are the outcomes of AI.