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Mr.Harari words with student perspective

 

Human Stupidity vs Wisdom: Which Will Win?


The Student Scenario:

Imagine a student named Sam, who is studying computer science. Sam is fascinated by artificial intelligence and dreams of developing a new AI that could revolutionize how we live. Sam is exceptionally intelligent, but like many others, he doesn’t fully comprehend the possible dangers of his actions.

One day, he creates an advanced AI model that could potentially solve global issues like climate change or disease. Sam is excited but remains unaware of the larger consequences of his creation—what if this AI becomes uncontrollable? What if it causes harm, intentionally or unintentionally? The power of AI, like nuclear weapons, is immense. While Sam’s intentions may be good, there is always a risk that his creation could go beyond his control.

The Wisdom vs Stupidity Debate:

Human Wisdom:

Human wisdom allows for the creation of great things, such as advanced technologies that can change the world. Take Sam’s example: AI, when developed responsibly, could be a tool for progress. It can help solve complex problems, enhance human life, and create solutions that were once unimaginable. This reflects human wisdom—the ability to understand, reason, and create technologies for the benefit of society.

Human Stupidity:

However, human stupidity is often present in the decisions we make. This doesn’t mean that people are unintelligent, but rather that we sometimes act without fully considering the long-term consequences of our actions. In Sam’s case, while his creation is meant to help, he might overlook potential risks, such as AI becoming too powerful or malfunctioning in ways that harm society. This is where stupidity can play a dangerous role.

The fact that humans can create such powerful tools but often fail to predict their consequences is part of the tension between wisdom and stupidity. We develop nuclear weapons and AI, knowing that they can potentially destroy civilization, yet we continue to create and develop them without fully understanding the risks.

The Combination of Both:

The combination of wisdom and stupidity is what makes the situation so dangerous. If humans were purely wise, they would recognize the potential consequences of their actions and be more cautious. But if humans were entirely stupid, we wouldn't have the capability to create such powerful technologies in the first place.

For example, if Sam’s AI were created by a truly wise entity, they would understand the need for strict controls and fail-safes to ensure it doesn’t go rogue. However, Sam’s own lack of foresight—an element of human stupidity—could allow his AI to spiral out of control, even if his initial intentions were good.

Conclusion:

The tension between wisdom and stupidity is not just an abstract philosophical concept; it has real-world implications, especially when it comes to creating powerful technologies. In Sam's case, the AI he creates could be the future of humanity, for better or worse. If he allows his intelligence to guide him without understanding the potential dangers, he might end up creating something that harms humanity.

The challenge for students, innovators, and society at large is to balance the incredible wisdom that can drive progress with the awareness of the unintended consequences that might arise from human stupidity. By doing so, we can hopefully ensure that wisdom prevails over stupidity in the long run, guiding the development of technology in a way that benefits rather than harms the future.

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