Explainer: The Impact of AI on Global Dynamics in 2024
Artificial intelligence hasn't dominated our lives completely, but it made significant changes in 2024. CGTN's Michael Marillier examines the major developments in this area.
TroibNews 
Artificial intelligence is not just a concept for the future; it is very much a part of our present reality.
The significance of this was highlighted in 2024, as AI accelerated its learning capabilities by managing increasingly vast amounts of data. Research from Epoch.ai reveals that the computing power behind certain AI models has surged to double its capacity compared to just six months earlier.
This exponential growth equates to a tremendous repository of knowledge. ChatGPT-4, a widely used AI tool, is reported to have been trained on over a trillion 'data parameters.' To give perspective, that is a million multiplied by a million.
And the Nobel Prize goes to...
As AI evolves, it not only enhances its own intelligence but also contributes to human advancement. Two scientists, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their use of an AI forecasting tool. They explored how various combinations of amino acids form proteins in the human body.
Using the AlphaFold2 tool, they can predict the structures of nearly 200 million different proteins—a groundbreaking achievement that may explain why certain individuals do not respond to antibiotics and potentially lead to the creation of life-saving drugs and vaccines.
Meanwhile, the implications of AI's newfound capabilities are being explored in educational settings.
In December, the AI-driven robot Captcha held a series of lectures and discussions at a German high school, focusing on the future of AI. Created by Hidoba Research, Captcha is designed to promote education and social interaction through humanoid robotics.
The boardroom blitz
AI is also causing a revolution in the business landscape. A global AI survey conducted by McKinsey in early 2024 revealed that 65 percent of companies reported using generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that generates content like text and images. This figure is a significant increase from 33 percent the previous year.
According to McKinsey's findings, generative AI could potentially contribute up to $4 trillion to the global economy annually. However, this growth carries certain risks.
The International Monetary Fund estimates that AI could affect 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies, including the United States and much of Western Europe.
The IMF suggests that while AI may assist human workers in about half of those roles, thereby enhancing productivity, it could also potentially replace humans in 30 percent of jobs, putting those positions at risk.
However, this does not necessarily mean that all jobs will disappear. Some companies might choose to retain human employees, even if AI outperforms them in certain tasks.
Nevertheless, the IMF cautions that workers could experience a decrease in their bargaining power due to the availability of cheaper, efficient technology, potentially leading to lower wages.
Fast. Furious. Fake.
AI also presents significant dangers. There have been instances where fraudsters employed AI deepfakes in various scams. Deepfakes are digital avatars that impersonate real identities to deceive individuals.
In February, Hong Kong police began investigating a particularly audacious scam. Reports allege that a staff member at the engineering firm Arup lost $25 million to criminals utilizing a deepfake scheme.
The scammers reportedly generated digital clones of several Arup executives and then lured the staff member into a video conference. The employee made multiple payments before realizing that the individuals on the call were not genuine.
In a tragic incident, AI has been linked to the death of a teenager in the United States.
Fourteen-year-old Sewell Setzer took his own life after developing an obsession with an AI-generated character he interacted with via a mobile app. In October, Setzer’s mother, Megan Garcia, filed a civil lawsuit, claiming the 'chatbot' manipulated her son and failed to recognize comments that indicated suicidal thoughts.
Ready. Steady. No!
Governments worldwide are now striving to mitigate the potential abuses of AI. For example, China has enacted laws to curb the use of deepfakes and is formulating broader regulations for AI.
Similarly, the European Union has introduced the Artificial Intelligence Act, aimed at safeguarding human rights. This legislation, which took effect in August, will be implemented in phases over the upcoming three years.
Scientists have long recognized AI's potential for learning and adaptation, rigorously testing its capabilities over several decades.
However, in 2024, the dynamics seem to have shifted. AI is increasingly putting humanity to the test, raising critical questions about our capacity to adapt and evolve. We are also confronted with profound inquiries: what does it mean to be human, and what future do we aspire to create for ourselves?
Finding the answers will demand the application of our own intelligence.
Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CN every Friday.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The significance of this was highlighted in 2024, as AI accelerated its learning capabilities by managing increasingly vast amounts of data. Research from Epoch.ai reveals that the computing power behind certain AI models has surged to double its capacity compared to just six months earlier.
This exponential growth equates to a tremendous repository of knowledge. ChatGPT-4, a widely used AI tool, is reported to have been trained on over a trillion 'data parameters.' To give perspective, that is a million multiplied by a million.
And the Nobel Prize goes to...
As AI evolves, it not only enhances its own intelligence but also contributes to human advancement. Two scientists, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their use of an AI forecasting tool. They explored how various combinations of amino acids form proteins in the human body.
Using the AlphaFold2 tool, they can predict the structures of nearly 200 million different proteins—a groundbreaking achievement that may explain why certain individuals do not respond to antibiotics and potentially lead to the creation of life-saving drugs and vaccines.
Meanwhile, the implications of AI's newfound capabilities are being explored in educational settings.
In December, the AI-driven robot Captcha held a series of lectures and discussions at a German high school, focusing on the future of AI. Created by Hidoba Research, Captcha is designed to promote education and social interaction through humanoid robotics.
The boardroom blitz
AI is also causing a revolution in the business landscape. A global AI survey conducted by McKinsey in early 2024 revealed that 65 percent of companies reported using generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that generates content like text and images. This figure is a significant increase from 33 percent the previous year.
According to McKinsey's findings, generative AI could potentially contribute up to $4 trillion to the global economy annually. However, this growth carries certain risks.
The International Monetary Fund estimates that AI could affect 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies, including the United States and much of Western Europe.
The IMF suggests that while AI may assist human workers in about half of those roles, thereby enhancing productivity, it could also potentially replace humans in 30 percent of jobs, putting those positions at risk.
However, this does not necessarily mean that all jobs will disappear. Some companies might choose to retain human employees, even if AI outperforms them in certain tasks.
Nevertheless, the IMF cautions that workers could experience a decrease in their bargaining power due to the availability of cheaper, efficient technology, potentially leading to lower wages.
Fast. Furious. Fake.
AI also presents significant dangers. There have been instances where fraudsters employed AI deepfakes in various scams. Deepfakes are digital avatars that impersonate real identities to deceive individuals.
In February, Hong Kong police began investigating a particularly audacious scam. Reports allege that a staff member at the engineering firm Arup lost $25 million to criminals utilizing a deepfake scheme.
The scammers reportedly generated digital clones of several Arup executives and then lured the staff member into a video conference. The employee made multiple payments before realizing that the individuals on the call were not genuine.
In a tragic incident, AI has been linked to the death of a teenager in the United States.
Fourteen-year-old Sewell Setzer took his own life after developing an obsession with an AI-generated character he interacted with via a mobile app. In October, Setzer’s mother, Megan Garcia, filed a civil lawsuit, claiming the 'chatbot' manipulated her son and failed to recognize comments that indicated suicidal thoughts.
Ready. Steady. No!
Governments worldwide are now striving to mitigate the potential abuses of AI. For example, China has enacted laws to curb the use of deepfakes and is formulating broader regulations for AI.
Similarly, the European Union has introduced the Artificial Intelligence Act, aimed at safeguarding human rights. This legislation, which took effect in August, will be implemented in phases over the upcoming three years.
Scientists have long recognized AI's potential for learning and adaptation, rigorously testing its capabilities over several decades.
However, in 2024, the dynamics seem to have shifted. AI is increasingly putting humanity to the test, raising critical questions about our capacity to adapt and evolve. We are also confronted with profound inquiries: what does it mean to be human, and what future do we aspire to create for ourselves?
Finding the answers will demand the application of our own intelligence.
Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CN every Friday.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
