Artificial Intelligence is a Double-Edged Sword, By Which the Capitalist Order is Harming Humankind, Instead of Granting It Benefit

News:

In its article, published on 25 July 2023, entitled, “AI leaders warn Congress that AI could be used to create bioweapons” the Washington Post reported that, “A trio of influential artificial intelligence leaders testified at a congressional hearing Tuesday, warning that the frantic pace of AI development could lead to serious harms within the next few years, such as rogue states or terrorists using the tech to create bioweapons... Yoshua Bengio, an AI professor at the University of Montreal who is known as one of the fathers of modern AI science, said the United States should push for international cooperation to control the development of AI, outlining a regime similar to international rules on nuclear technology. Dario Amodei, the chief executive of AI start-up Anthropic, said he fears cutting edge AI could be used to create dangerous virus and other bioweapons in as little as two years. And Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said the way AI works means it is harder to fully understand and control than other powerful technologies.”

Comment:

The danger of artificial intelligence in the manufacture of biological weapons is a small aspect of its dangers under capitalism. What the experts said about the danger of artificial intelligence is indeed true. However, they neglected the fact that its danger is only due to the absence of the noble and just Islamic values, from ruling and taking care of the affairs of humankind. In contrast, the capitalists only care about profits, control, domination, colonialization, plundering and abusing people. It is inconceivable that they would employ artificial intelligence for the benefit and well-being of humanity. They have not done so with numerous other technologies, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution to this day. They have not taken advantage of the development achieved by human minds, for the benefit of all of humanity. Therefore, the reason for the experts’ warnings is the according to the reality in which we live, under the capitalist world order, and those who control that order.

The capitalist world, which adopts interest and material benefits as its yardstick, subjects everything it touches to this yardstick. It includes all the discoveries and inventions made by humanity. Those in control are a very small handful of people, whose percentage does not exceed one percent. Most of whom are from the greedy Western world. They manage any technological development that they use to reap wealth, through monopoly or outrageous injustice. They deprive the majority of people of the benefit of human minds. It is also tragic that the source of these brilliant minds is often from the poor and deprived peoples of the Third World.

For example, the development that humanity has reached in the world of medicine is amazing. However, obtaining excellent health care in the world, including the Western world, is very difficult. The same applies to artificial intelligence. The colonialist West will employ it for the benefit of the same handful of capitalists, whilst the rest of humanity is deprived of benefiting from it.

As another example, it is expected that artificial intelligence will replace up to 80 percent of the workforce in the next few years. This means that most people will be out of work. Even the workers of the capitalists’ companies will not be able to continue in their current jobs, which are a form of modern slavery.

Yes, the future of humanity is bleak and dark, if it does not rectify its affairs. If it upholds this greedy capitalist system, it will only face more misery and despair. Therefore, all peoples, and foremost among them those of Islamic Ummah, must work to ensure the divinely revealed system of Islam, that is fair to people and achieves justice among them. It alone can save them from the greed of capitalism and those who control it.

Consider the remarks of US Vice President Kamala Harris, in her remarks during a conference on the climate crisis that was held on 14 July 2023, as reported by the New York Post. She said, “When we invest in clean energy and electric vehicles and reduce population, more of our children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.” This statement about reducing population was defended as a gaffe by her supporters, but fiercely denounced as a dangerous admission by her opponents.

In contrast, the soon-to-be-established Islamic State, inshaAllah, through its implementation of the great Shariah rulings of Islam, will fully realize the immense potential of the riches of the green planet. The world’s resources are enough for more than 150 billion people to live at the standard of luxury of the people of Japan. The Khilafah (Caliphate) will do so for the benefit of all people, without monopoly or injustice, as these are forbidden by Shariah. The Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate) State will also supervise the manufacture of machinery, and the rapid development of industrial production. This is so that people benefit from it equally, and with the least possible effort. The Khilafah state is a welfare state, not a state of taxation. It is a state that serves the interests of all the citizens, not the interests of a small handful from amongst them.

The danger of artificial intelligence can only be remedied by working to re-establish the Second Khilafah Rashidah on the Method of the Prophethood. It alone will benefit from technological development, including artificial intelligence, in a way that is optimal, fully realizing its benefit for humanity. So is there an excuse left for any Muslim, or non-Muslim, to remain a spectator to the destruction of humanity?! Shouldn’t those with intellect, and those who are guided to Islam, take the hands of the Islamic Ummah, and all of humanity, to the righteousness of salvation by Islam?!

Allah (swt) said,

[وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ * إِنَّ فِي هَٰذَا لَبَلَاغاً لِّقَوْمٍ عَابِدِينَ * وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ]

“Surely, following the heavenly Record, We decreed in the Scriptures, “My righteous servants shall inherit the land. [105] Surely, this Quran is sufficient as a reminder for those devoted to worship. [106] We have sent you O Prophet only as a mercy for the whole world.” [TMQ Surah Al-Anbiyyah 21:105-107].

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Bilal al-Muhajir – Wilayah Pakistan