Google's CEO Thinks AI Will Impact Humanity More than Fire and Electricity

If you did not know already, artificial intelligence is still in its infancy stage and you sure to be exposed to it on some level. Everything from suggestive searches to voice assistants to autonomous cars uses some form of artificial intelligence. AI has already made its way into our lives and is shaping our everyday experiences. Yet, again, this is only very basic AI, what happens to the world when artificial intelligence moves beyond reactive machines and limited memory? What will the world look like then?   

Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, believes that artificial intelligence will have just as large an impact on humanity as when humankind's ancestors discovered electricity and fire. He thinks artificial intelligence may cause the largest paradigm shift in history. 

The Coming Artificially Intelligent World

Speaking at a television special hosted by both MSNBC and Recode, Pichai discussed his insights on artificial intelligence.

"AI is one of the most important things that humanity is working on. It's more profound than, I don't know, electricity or fire."

During the television event, he described how artificial intelligence is one of the most profound things that humanity is working on at the moment, stating "it's more profound than, I don't know, electricity or fire." 

This comes as no surprise as Google has been making tremendous leaps in artificial intelligence, offering some form of AI in their products. Perceived as one of the world's leader in AI, Google does aim to tackle this upcoming shift both thoughtfully and carefully.

Pichai also expressed his sentiments towards AI in a 2016 interview with Fast Company stating, "Building general artificial intelligence in a way that helps people meaningfully-I think the word moonshot is an understatement for that. I would say that it is as big as it gets." 

What Will the AI Future Bring?

Though many expressed excitement towards artificial intelligence, others have been wary, warning humanity to tread carefully. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has made it clear that AI could be the end of humanity if not developed carefully. 

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Artificial Intelligence exists on fours different levels. Simply put, the AI society is currently at level one and two, limiting machines to complete essential functions and decisions as well as the ability to recall information. When the society moves up the latter towards "theory of mind" and "self-aware" AI, mankind will change.   

It will be interesting to see how AI will shape the coming future. Nevertheless, it has been made clear that those steps towards artificial intelligence need to be done carefully.