The recent assertion by Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of technology company NVIDIA, that AI has reached a tipping point raises the question of what we can expect in the future.
Talking to JudgmentIndustry leaders and experts were divided on whether they felt the technology had reached such a milestone, but all believed it was, at the very least, on track to do so.
Their views on the benefits that AI will bring remain optimistic, but there is widespread belief that there will be serious challenges to overcome along the way – especially with regard to ethics, the environment and, of course, security.
The environmental challenge of artificial intelligence
“Navigating the AI landscape presents a dual narrative of unprecedented potential and significant challenges,” says Peter Wood, technical director at web3 recruitment firm Spectrum Search. “The ethical implications of the rise of AI are a maze of complexity. Issues surrounding data privacy, security, and the potential for algorithmic bias pose enormous challenges that require innovative solutions and rigorous oversight. The environmental impact of training cutting-edge AI models also requires a concerted effort toward more sustainable computing practices.”
Indeed, as with cryptocurrencies before it, AI raises serious concerns about its potential impact on the environment. Like Wood, Anthony Oddo, co-founder and chief technology and product officer at payments infrastructure company Verto, cited the energy consumption of training AI models as a key consideration.
“Training cutting-edge models will consume a huge amount of energy, so the sustainability of different AI models will likely come under progressively greater emphasis over time,” he explains.
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By GlobalData
This view was echoed by Dr Chris Bedder, chief data scientist at AI-powered digital learning provider Oprisum, who warned: “Stunning use of energy, with models like… [OpenAI’s video text-to-video engine] Having Sora's footprints comparable to using a washing machine seven times is unsustainable. That's why new chip architectures are necessary and where the funding is supposed to go.
“The environmental impact of generative AI, especially its carbon footprint, will also soon become apparent,” says Dr. Leslie Kanthan, co-founder and CEO of AI code optimization company TurinTech, which works in part to reduce the energy consumption of the technology. As a central topic of discussion and interest. As the use of generative AI increases, scrutiny of its energy consumption and resulting emissions will also increase.
Keeping up with AI: Elections, regulation, and skills
Beyond environmental issues, there are concerns about the pace of AI development and the extent to which regulators and countermeasures can keep up.
Oduu notes: “Caution must be taken regarding the speed of development. Regulatory bodies are tasked with striking a delicate balance between encouraging innovation and implementing safeguards to address ethical concerns, data privacy and potential biases in AI systems. At a global level, this becomes particularly difficult as it is likely We are witnessing tension between private multinational companies driving development and national governments and policies trying to regulate developments.
“Much of the talk focuses on the benefits to individuals and businesses and the risks that AI can pose. However, what is often overlooked is the broader societal impact of large-scale AI models. These cutting-edge models, because of their complexity and necessary computational power, can It has serious consequences for various sectors.
Bader points to the use of artificial intelligence to influence elections as one of the serious issues that must be confronted.
“With billions voting in 2024, the risks of misinformation spreading through the ‘hose of falsehood’ are also real, and something to watch closely this year,” he says.
That's a concern shared by Leon Gohmann, chief strategy officer at digital product consulting firm Elsewhen.
“The main challenge is likely to be the use of AI or Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by bad actors for illegal purposes and the difficulties of regulating this,” he comments. “In a global election year, computers can already use artificial intelligence to create fake videos showing the faces of political candidates and post them on social media with potentially disastrous consequences. Google's Gemini program, which creates the faces of women and people of color in inaccurate and offensive historical contexts, is an example well.
Martin Neil, CEO of AI transformation agency ICS.AI, believes the speed of development may require new approaches in order to continue to adapt to the changing landscape quickly enough.
“The main challenge in the coming years will be adapting to the rapid pace of change in basic AI technologies,” he says. “What used to take years in terms of invention, availability and improvement, now takes mere months. This will require a degree of flexibility that may seem unfamiliar at first. However, However, the potential benefits are significant. Generative AI can provide personalized support in various aspects of our lives and work. It also has the potential to lead a digital renaissance, promoting a period of enhanced creativity and innovation.
Likewise, Bidder suggests that the development of artificial intelligence could outpace the expertise required to manage it.
“The technology skills gap is something that companies of all sizes face, especially given the challenges of recruiting ready-made talent,” he says. “Therefore, upskilling is vital and AI’s ability to deliver adaptive machine learning can ensure the workforce is built to keep up with modern demands.”
In this issue, Felix Oswald, co-founder and CEO of GoStudent, points out the need to equip young people with the skills needed for a future in which AI is ubiquitous.
“It is undeniable that adoption of new technology is very high among young people, so we must learn to evolve with the developments of artificial intelligence tools,” he says.
“Instead of ignoring these platforms and enabling children to bypass the education system, we must teach students how to engage with these platforms effectively, thus changing the curriculum to match and benchmarking them on ‘new world’ skills.”
Future benefits of artificial intelligence
Of course, the prevailing belief is that the ultimate benefits that AI will provide far outweigh the challenges.
As Rob Young, CEO of IT services company Infinity Group, explains: “Renewed interest around AI has increased interest and engagement among business leaders and decision makers and opened conversations about AI adoption and integration. Generative AI tools have opened the door that technology leaders have been pushing It's been around for a long time, but it's concrete, real-world use cases that have accelerated its adoption.
“Clearly, fair and secure use, sound governance and strong policies are critical when it comes to mitigating the challenges inherent in AI, but delivering immediate business value lies in understanding the AI readiness of existing systems, data infrastructure and broader IT estates.”
While large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's ChatGPT are now being integrated into business tools and processes, many questions about AI focus on what comes next. For Gohman, it's initially about the spread of technology.
“In the short term, AI will become ubiquitous – like WiFi or other facilities we are used to,” he predicts. “In the medium term, we will see another paradigm shift (or tipping point) that could take the form of artificial general intelligence. This will be equivalent to human levels of intelligence, understanding context and the world at the same level as a human does, with access to the powers of a computer.”
This progress will also be reflected in the complexity of what AI can achieve more broadly, notes Michal Szymczak, head of AI strategy at digital solutions provider Deloitte Fast 50 Zartis.
“In the next three years, we will stop being able to recognize what AI produces, and shift our focus to taking countermeasures instead,” he says. “For example, by looking for blockchain solutions to check if something was created by artificial intelligence.
“It is impossible to predict how much change will occur. But companies that invest, understand and pursue growth will be the winners in the AI race.
Wood echoes this sentiment, believing that the short- to medium-term future will see what he calls “a fabric of AI-driven innovation and transformation.”
“We are not just looking at incremental improvements, but at a radical reimagining of processes, services and products,” he says. “The near future will reveal AI applications that simplify complex tasks, personalize consumer experiences at the individual level, and solve problems that have long eluded traditional approaches. This period will see the democratization of AI, as tools and platforms become accessible to non-experts, Thus stimulating innovation in all fields.
“The benefits of AI are broad and diverse. From enhancing efficiency and productivity across industries to opening new frontiers in research and development, the potential of AI is almost limitless. The prospects for AI in addressing critical global challenges, such as climate change and healthcare disparities, appear Particularly compelling. Balancing these challenges and benefits requires a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes ethical considerations, inclusivity and sustainability alongside technological advances.
Of course, artificial intelligence is not the only promising and rapidly developing technology. As Odo points out: “Even as AI continues to make headlines, it is important to note that technological progress is in a constant state of flux, and new technologies will emerge. Emerging technologies that could replace the AI hype may be quantum and neural computing or robotics.” Advanced.
