I'm more concerned that AI will become a modern deity in that it's considered science and ought not to be questioned. Things like predictions of academmic success, criminal behavior, etc that impact the rights of individuals.
Hey, why would you want to think for yourself, when you have a computer do it for you?
A lot of people unfamiliar with Machine Learning are already showing these tendencies. I am by no means an expert in the field, only a interested amateur, but I know about the limitations and I think its important that people are taught the basics of ML. More people should view ML/AI as "a complex process minimizing an multivariable error function over a multivariable input field", instead of a "computer that thinks". This way, more of these applications of it might be questioned.
I think, the only way to stop these tendencies is to teach the fundamental basics and limitations of ML in High School. It might be possible, you don't even have to introduce tensor algebra or even vector spaces to accomplish it at this stage of education.
> More people should view ML/AI as "a complex process minimizing an multivariable error function over a multivariable input field"
I don't know where you're from, but a statement like that here in the United States would surely get you an ass-kicking.
Ok - a bit of hyperbole there, but not far from it; most people would simply hear "wah-wah-wah-wah" and have no clue what you were talking about; others would fall asleep.
Could you teach high schoolers what "minimization" is, and what it means to "minimize" a "multivariable error function over a multivariable input field"? Maybe some of them, but even there I'd bet the majority won't get it, and those that do will only have it for the time it takes to pass a test, then promptly forget about it.
Honestly, there are plenty of other subjects I'd rather see taught in high school (and earlier) to kids, the greatest being critical thinking methods and how to question how you know what you know. Perhaps along with philosophy (general and "of mind"), and a few other similar subjects.
I doubt we'll ever see this any time soon, though, as such knowledge would undermine much of the status-quo, particularly religion.
Yeah well, I kind of know what you are aiming at. I am not a teacher or pedagogue so I might aim to high with this. I don't mean to establish an AI class or an in depth coverage of these concepts, but some fundamentals on this topic, maybe as part of the mathematics curriculum (or philosophy as you suggested) would be prudent.
>> Could you teach high schoolers what "minimization" is, and what it means to "minimize" a "multivariable error function over a multivariable input field"?
By the way I phrased it in this particular way, because it is mathematically correct but also takes the magic and notions of consciousness out of the topic.
