人工智能有多安全?

How Safe Is Artificial Intelligence? 人工智能有多安全?

The notion of machines rebelling against humans has long been a theme of science fiction books and films.  But as advances in computer processors and memory chips rapidly usher¹ us into the world of artificial intelligence, some scientists and technological² entrepreneurs are urging us to get ready for machines becoming more independent.

For instance, the artificial brains called autopilots that have been flying airplanes for decades require the presence but not the focused attention of the pilot.  But smart cars are going to be the first machines making independent decisions in close interaction with humans.

Many feel uneasy about it.  But Jerry Kaplan, a computer scientist and author of the book "Humans Need Not Apply," says smart cars will be much more cautious than humans and their style of driving will save many lives.  He spoke³ to VOA via Skype.

“I think when you take a broader picture, you have to recognize that we may be able to reduce the amount of carnage on our highways by 80, 90 percent” by using smart cars, he said.

Advanced technologies have always been of great interest to the military, which is developing drones capable of flying without remote control. Some say the possibility of such weapons systems making decisions about life and death is much harder to accept than a smart car.

“Who will  be responsible for one of these weapons systems killing⁴ an innocent person?" asked Toby Walsh, a professor of artificial intelligence at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. "It’s very unclear; we don’t have the framework in place to understand. Is it the person who built the autonomous⁵ robot? Is it the person who built the program? It is the person who turned it on?”

While some are calling for a worldwide ban on smart weapons, others point out that the components⁶ for building them already exist — creating the danger that a rogue⁷ nation or terrorist group could gain the upper hand.  There are other reasons, too, for moving forward.

“There are very strong moral arguments that we need to develop these technologies because they reduce things like the so-called collateral⁸ damage,” Kaplan said.

As the technology is racing⁹ ahead, artificial intelligence may bring both good and bad things. And scientists warn that we have to do more to adjust to changing times.

Kaplan said there is an interim¹⁰ period "in which people are put out of work and people need to learn new skills, and unfortunately, because this is an accelerated pace of this kind of automation, those problems in the short run are going to get significantly worse.”

While thinking about the changes artificial intelligence will create in our everyday lives, it may be worthwhile to remind ourselves of the First Law of Robotics, which famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov suggested in 1942: “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”

1 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

6 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

7 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

8 collateral   

adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品

参考例句：

• Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.很多人把个人财产用作小额商业贷款的抵押品。
• Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.由于拿不出东西作为抵押，这里大部分人无法从银行贷款。

9 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

10 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。