Us and Artificial Intelligence

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Sophia, a robot supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology that was activated in 2016 and created by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics, takes part in a special interview with the media at the 2019 Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Dialogue in Jakarta on Monday (16/9/2019). Sophia represents AI technology of the future, when humans and robots can work together in various fields. The robot, which can make dozens of human facial expressions, is expected to be smart enough to help humans in the fields of medicine, education and scientific research. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the use of robots in 2020 is estimated to reach 3 million units or a threefold increase over the last 10 years.

The assumption of humans being the most intelligent creature is now being challenged by a super intelligent human creation itself.

It is possible that one day, the creation’s capability will surpass that of its creator. In fact, after being discussed since the 20th century, the issues surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) have been increasingly developing in the 21st century. When Klaus Schwab held in 2016 in Davos, Switzerland the World Economic Forum themed “The Fourth Industrial Revolution,” AI emerged as a technological breakthrough along with robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage and quantum computing.

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Indeed, some of these innovations are still at an early stage, but various technologies have reached a turning point in their development, namely when they grow up beyond technology itself, and mutually reinforce one another and bring forth a combination of technology in the physical, digital and biological realms.

Anticipating such huge influences and benefits, a number of countries are racing to become AI superpowers. Kai-Fu Lee wrote in 2018 AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley and the New World Order. Although the world order is often associated with military and economic superiority, the title of the book implies that a country’s wealth will one day rely on a number of technologies, particularly AI.

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Things like individual services, corporations, factory operations and manufacturing, and even warfare, will be characterized by automation based on AI. Robots, for example, are not only flexible in motion, but they also respond to humans’ interactive communication. For one, we have seen a machine that can beat a World Chess Champion, thanks to machine learning.

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Students assemble a simple robot made from fresh milk wrappers during the Orbit Habibie Festival in Jiexpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Thursday (17/10/2019). This festival aims to provide space for innovation for the younger generation to create, work, and innovate. The festival presents various sectors, such as new technology in robotics, aerospace, artificial intelligence and education.

If this newspaper for three days since Monday (15/2/2021) has been publishing thematic reports on AI, it is only to show our awareness of the emergence of such a technology, which will color our lives as individuals and part of the society, corporation and global interaction.

We recognize the importance of this issue, but at the same time immediately recognize the limitations we face. First, we must note the lack of human resources in this field. The government needs 600,000 people with expertise in AI. However, education institutions can only bring about 100,000.

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This should be considered by the government and higher education institutions. Various incentives and scholarships must be provided to attract the interest of the younger generation, who are said to now prefer other fields besides technology, let alone the field of engineering.

It is an open secret that today, to launch a start-up, what is highly necessary is an information technology expert. Due to the disproportionate number of available human resources and existing needs, human resources in IT are scarce and they have a high bargaining position. IT experts can be rare, especially those who specialize in AI. We must respond to this challenge if we want to independently take part in future civilizations.

This article was translated by Camilia Adianti.