Many companies overstate their technological knowledge to attract investors.
By Johan Steyn, 17 July 2024
Published by BusinessDay: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2024-07-17-johan-steyn-behind-the-curtain-of-human-labour-in-ai-powered-systems/
Wolfgang von Kempelen, a Hungarian author and inventor, was able to capture Europe with his creation, The Mechanical Turk, a spectacular chess-playing automaton.
It was the year 1770 and audiences were astonished by the seeming autonomy of this engineering marvel, which is said to have defeated notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon. Nevertheless, Kempelen’s genius in merging technology and deception was demonstrated by his machine being operated by a human behind the scenes.
The year 2016 introduced a contemporary equivalent in the form of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, billed as an artificial intelligence (AI) shopping checkout system. However, the system relied on human oversight from workers in India to ensure accurate transactions, even though it promised customers a seamless shopping experience without manual scanning. This highlights a reoccurring trend of human involvement that is camouflaged by claims of AI autonomy.
In 2023, Amazon made a shocking announcement that 1,000 human workers were processing transactions with services such as Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh. This revelation aroused controversy and called attention to the widespread practice of “AI washing”. Many companies, eager to profit from the allure of AI, overstate their technological knowledge to attract investors and clients if they want to attract them.
It is a trend that is now visible in the path that AI has taken through the hype cycle. This phenomenon is a reflection of previous cycles of technology hype, in which exaggerated expectations precede disillusionment. When put into reality, AI frequently fails to live up to the promises of transformative powers and huge investments. Numerous examples of AI failures, ranging from bots that fail to provide customer service to financial forecasts that are wrongly hyped, demonstrate a gap between the promise and the reality of AI.
The influence that AI will have on employment is still a disputed issue. Even though there have been guarantees that it would create more employment than it will displace, there are increasing stories of job losses owing to the application of AI. That companies such as IBM and UPS, which were formerly advocates of AI as a job generator, now recognise its role in worker cutbacks is a stark contrast to the narratives that appeared before.
It is important to maintain a healthy dosage of cynicism in light of the revolution in AI platforms. Though there is no denying that there is potential for revolutionary applications, it is crucial to differentiate between genuine innovation and exaggerated claims. Consumers and investors alike have a responsibility to evaluate purported advances in AI and to demand transparency in the use of these technological innovations.
From Kempelen’s Mechanical Turk to the advancements fuelled by AI that are being produced today, it is abundantly obvious that the allure of technological marvels frequently conceals the involvement of humans. In light of the fact that we are confronted with both the benefits and the risks that this technology presents, it will be vital to comprehend its limits and make certain that it is implemented in an ethical manner to fully realise its potential.
Constant attention, critical assessment and an unwavering adherence to honesty and transparency are all essential components of the journey towards the revolutionary effect of AI.
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