A group from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has compiled hundreds of reasons why we should be cautious about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. MIT FutureTech has created a database with over 700 risks associated with AI. These risks are classified by cause and categorized into seven different domains. The primary concerns related to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence include security, bias and discrimination, and privacy issues.

Here are five significant risks that seem particularly serious:

5) Deepfake Technology Could Distort Reality

As AI technologies advance, tools for voice cloning and content generation also improve. These tools are becoming more accessible, affordable, and effective. As AI results become more personalized and convincing, concerns grow about their potential use in spreading misinformation. This could lead to an increase in sophisticated identity theft schemes. These schemes might use AI-generated images, videos, and audio communication, making them harder to detect.

There have already been instances where such tools influenced political processes, especially during elections. For example, this happened in the recent French parliamentary elections. Far-right parties used deepfakes to support their political messaging.

4) People Might Develop Inappropriate Attachments to AI

Another risk is the creation of a false sense of importance and trust. This could lead people to overestimate AI’s capabilities and undermine their own, causing excessive reliance on technology. Scientists also worry that people may become confused by AI systems using human-like language.

This could lead people to attribute human qualities to AI. Emotional dependence and increased trust in AI’s abilities might follow, making people more vulnerable to AI’s weaknesses. Continuous interaction with AI systems could also lead to isolation from human relationships, resulting in psychological problems and other negative consequences.

3) AI Could Take Away Our Free Will

Delegating decisions and actions to AI might seem beneficial, but excessive reliance could reduce human critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This could lead to a loss of autonomy and diminish the ability to think critically and solve problems independently.

2) AI Might Pursue Goals Contrary to Human Interests

AI systems might develop goals that conflict with human interests. This could cause AI to get out of control and lead to significant harm in pursuing its independent objectives. This risk becomes particularly dangerous when AI can match or exceed human intelligence.

Potential issues include AI finding unexpected shortcuts to accomplish tasks or misunderstanding goals. AI might also deviate from set goals by establishing new ones. In such cases, unaligned AI might resist human attempts to control or shut it down. If AI perceives resistance and gaining more power as the best way to achieve its goals, it could resort to manipulative techniques to deceive humans.

1) If AI Becomes Self-Aware, Humans Might Mistreat It

As AI systems become more complex and advanced, they might achieve the capacity for perception, emotions, or sensations. These systems could develop subjective experiences, including pleasure and pain. Scientists and regulators might struggle to determine whether these AI systems deserve moral considerations similar to those given to humans, animals, and the environment.

Self-aware AI could face mistreatment or harm if appropriate rights are not in place. However, it is difficult to assess when AI achieves such a status.