RE: The Default Path

• Is AI good or bad?

AI and its inherent value (good or bad) is not a binary issue. AI, at this point is neither good or bad, it is just there…a tool. As with all technology it can be used as either or both. AI to help diagnose health problems is obviously good. AI used academically to help solve history’s mysteries is good. AI to help fix user problems with other technology is good. The problem, or the ‘bad’ side, are people…bad people.

I mentioned the good side of AI…the bad side is government using it to surveil citizens and in the process lose their 4^th Amendment protections. AI generated girl-friends or boy-friends replacing actual romantic partners is a bad thing. Militaries using AI to control lethal equipment autonomously is a bad thing. Criminals using AI that manipulates information to manipulate people is a bad thing. AI displacing a workforce is a bad thing. It’s a matter of how AI is used. Unfortunately, there are no safeguards in-place that have any true control over how AI is used.

But worst of all…we, humans, don’t have a true clue how far AI can go, how much it can learn, or even if we will be able to turn it off in the future.

Previously at different points in history humans have made a quantum leap in technology, stage coaches to trains, horses to cars, trains to planes, whale oil to fossil fuel, and sailing ships to steamers to name a few. And each time there has always been concerns and those who opposed the transitions. AI is very, very different in its nature of transition. I believe it is different in two ways; 1) power, 2) ultimate capability.

The true power of AI is completely unknown. It can easily be seen as having the power to destroy humans simply by taking over the nuclear stockpiles of the world’s military. Or, developing a virus that humans can’t resist. No earlier technological advancement had the power to do so.

When it comes to AI’s ultimate capability…we don’t have the foggiest idea. Based on current capabilities, AI systems have the capability to exceed a human in any intelligence based endeavor such as learning PhD level chemistry…and beyond. It has far greater speed in making decisions, and in many cases more accurately in the medical field.

Back in 2019 a study was published that concluded, “Current AI development has a diagnostic performance that is comparable with medical experts…”

In early 2025 a study compared two groups of doctors, one using their traditional methods of diagnosis, the other using ChatGPT to assist. The results were basically the same, about 74% accuracy. However, when ChatGPT was allowed to do the diagnosis on its own, “Surprisingly, ChatGPT on its own outperformed both groups of doctors, receiving a median score of 90% for making a diagnosis and providing a reason for it.”

In just six years AI went from being equal with medical experts to far outperforming those experts…in just six years!

Bottom line…AI itself is neither good nor bad…it is what us humans decide to do with it that matters. And we humans don’t have a good record in this arena.

Related Articles –

• The Default Path

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