In less than 50 years, artificial intelligence will be able to beat humans at all of their own tasks, according to a new study.
And, the first hints of this shift will become apparent much sooner.
Within the next ten years alone, the researchers found AI will outperform humans in language translation, truck driving, and even writing high-school essays – and, they say machines could be writing bestselling books by 2049.
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In less than 50 years, artificial intelligence will be able to beat humans at all of their own tasks, according to a new study. And, the first hints of this shift will become apparent much sooner. A stock image is pictured
In a new study, researchers from Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute, Yale University, and AI Impacts surveyed 352 machine learning experts to forecast the progress of AI in the next few decades.
The experts were asked about the timing of specific capabilities and occupations, as well as their predictions on when AI will become superior over humans in all tasks – and what the social implications of this might be.
The researchers predicted that machines will be better than humans at translating languages by 2024, writing high-school essays by 2026, driving a truck by 2027, and working in retail by 2031.
By 2049, they’ll be able to write a bestseller, and by 2053, they’ll be working as surgeons, they said.
According to the researchers, there’s a 50 percent chance artificial intelligence will outperform humans in all tasks in just 45 years.
And, by the same likelihood, they say machines could take over all human jobs in 120 years.
Some said this could even happen sooner.
Artificial intelligence is fast improving its capabilities, and has increasingly proven itself in historically human-dominated fields.
The Google-owned algorithm AlphaGo, for example, just recently defeated the world’s top player in the ancient Chinese game Go, sweeping a three-game series.
After outperforming humans on numerous occasions, the algorithm – which has been anointed the new ‘Go god’ – is now retiring.
While AI is expected to benefit society in many ways, the researchers also say machines will present a new set of challenges.
‘Advances in artificial intelligence will have massive social consequences,’ the authors wrote.
Artificial intelligence is fast improving its capabilities, and has increasingly proven itself in historically human-dominated fields. The experts were asked about the timing of specific capabilities and occupations. A stock image is pictured
‘Self-driving technology might replace millions of driving jobs over the coming decade.
‘In addition to possible unemployment, the transition will bring new challenges, such as rebuilding infrastructure, protecting vehicle cyber-security, and adapting laws and regulations.
‘New challenges, both for AI developers and policy-makers, will also arise from applications in law enforcement, military technology, and marketing.’
The news isn’t all bad, though.
In the survey, the researchers also determined the probability of an ‘extremely bad’ outcome, like human extinction as a result of AI, is only 5 percent.
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