Over the next few years, we are entering a world vastly different from the one we know today. This entry will be so rapid that we won’t even have the chance to understand whether the ground is slipping beneath us or if we are sliding into it. It will cause effects similar to head trauma in those who fall; symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, and nausea will be observed. Since the majority will fall together, finding someone to support those experiencing these traumas will be quite difficult. All the values, beliefs, norms you know and use to define yourself, whatever talents, accumulations, education, and qualifications you think you possess, will be suddenly overturned in this upheaval.
So, if such a widespread earthquake, affecting everyone, is approaching, why are we so relaxed? Because it is too late, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. The earthquake in question is global in scale, and such a thing is happening for the first time in history. Some call it the coming wave, others an approaching tsunami. And definitely do not be surprised by the scene you see in the world today, which you find difficult to understand. We are experiencing the preliminary tremors. For this reason, the world is rushing from one chaos to another very, very quickly. Do not think for a moment that the leaders will take precautions with old habits, because none of them know what they can do except not to be left behind in this. You might ask, “Really?” Yes, really! That’s why the silence.
I have been involved with artificial intelligence for a year and a half. I have spent the last few weeks researching its global impacts. I have especially investigated why the political class remains silent despite so many warnings. I can remind you that the European Union has announced a roadmap on this issue. This is not a regulation. It looks like one, but it isn’t. This is about being able to compete. Because if there is no alternative but to enter the approaching wave, no one wants to be left behind.
“Artificial intelligence has become a fundamental area of great power competition between nations. China and the US are competing in areas such as AI research, patents, supercomputers and robotics. Vladimir Putin believes that whoever leads in artificial intelligence will rule the world. Countries see AI as a source of security, wealth and prestige. Technology ‘chokepoints’ such as chip manufacturing and materials like rare earths are part of this competition.” The Coming Wave
The awareness of some states on this issue dates back almost a decade! And it is impossible to ignore this power struggle, reminiscent of the Cold War space race, behind many of the geopolitical fluctuations, frictions, conflicts, and wars. Because falling behind in Artificial Intelligence means losing strategic power.
On the other hand, while there is an enormous global struggle and transfer of resources for Artificial Intelligence, no one knows anything about the subsequent effects of what will emerge on humanity. Because there is almost nothing that what we face will not be involved in. And it is impossible to bring this thing under control. Its very dynamic, which makes it powerful, privileged, attractive, useful, indispensable, appealing, and “awesome,” is outside all known controls and does not require human input. States are not at all concerned with the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on humanity, except not to be left out of the competition. We can even say they don’t have the opportunity. Some leaders, on the other hand, already see it as a useful tool to consolidate state authority.
And despite all my research, no one knows anything about the possible consequences of what will emerge from this race in areas such as global, geopolitical, nation-state, bureaucracy, society, business life, the world of education, hierarchies, the legal order, culture, art, intellectual activities, class-based capitalism, labor force, the financial world, competition, the free market, copyright, communication, etc.! Yes, it’s hard to believe, but no one knows anything! There are no estimations, projections, or predictions! Yes, I know it’s very hard to believe. But there aren’t any! The only thing known is not to be left behind in this power struggle. The transformative speed and versatility of what has already emerged make all these forecasting efforts impossible. There is no plan, no prediction, no foresight, no precaution. Perhaps the best plan, prediction, and foresight are expected from Artificial Intelligence itself, and perhaps are already being made!
You would expect the captain to warn you to sit down and fasten your seatbelt when you are about to enter turbulence. As far as I can see, we have already entered turbulence, and there is no such thing as a seatbelt on the plane we are on. Moreover, the flight is unfortunately one-way. There is no return. The critical threshold has been crossed. Forget the world you know. There is no going back there anymore. Just as there is no return to the world of our Neolithic ancestors. The difference is this time the transformation seems like it will be as short and extremely turbulent as an earthquake. I am closing this topic for now. We have made a note for history. I recommend one of the books I read, “The Coming Wave,” to those who are interested. It will help you get an idea about the wavelength of the coming wave
“As our fragile governments sleepwalk into disaster, we face an existential dilemma: unprecedented harms on one side and the threat of overbearing surveillance on the other.” The Coming Wave
“As our fragile governments sleepwalk into disaster, we face an existential dilemma:
unprecedented harms on one side and the threat of overbearing surveillance on the other.”
The Coming Wave