Will Artificial Intelligence put my job at risk? | 6 June 2014

Ever since the onset of artificial intelligence – simulating human reasoning, problem solving – there has been worry about the machines taking over. Taking our jobs, rendering us unnecessary, perhaps even developing sentience and turning on us, like Skynet in Terminator 2.

Some of those fears have been wildly exaggerated, partly based on a misconception of what artificial intelligence actually is (which, on the whole, still remains using examples to train computer programmes to mimic human behaviour under certain quite limited conditions). But they aren’t completely foolish worries. The speed of improvement in artificial intelligence, as in much modern technology, is dazzling and quickening. According to Google’s Ray Kurzweil, in 2045 we will reach what’s known as ‘Singularity’: the point at which artificial intelligence becomes so advanced that it begins to produce new and ever more advanced versions of itself, leaving us mortals behind. If that happens then yes, consider your job at risk.