AI - The end of humanity?

[gazisere]

Fellow adventurers of Gielinor, gather 'round! Let's take a moment to delve into the captivating realm of Artificial Intelligence, where machine learning meets the magic of Runescape. Picture this: just like the elusive Phoenix, AI has risen from the ashes and evolved into something truly mesmerising.

Whether you're wielding a mighty Dragon Battleaxe or delicately skilling up your Herblore, AI has quietly become an integral part of our gaming experience. It's the genie in the lamp, granting us fascinating advancements that were once the stuff of fantasy.

But let's not get lost in the maze of Taverley Dungeon without a map, my friends. AI isn't just about creating smart NPCs or predicting market trends in the Grand Exchange. It's a complex interplay of algorithms and data, enabling machines to learn and adapt—almost as if they're on a quest for their own version of 99s.

Now, here's the twist: while AI in Runescape can handle tasks like pathfinding and chat moderation, what about its impact on our lives beyond the game? Are we summoning a helpful familiar or unintentionally unleashing a botgoblin? How do we ensure AI remains a force for good, much like Guthix's divine balance?

Let's chat about the ethical conundrums. Should we be concerned about AI taking over Skilling Guilds, stealing all our Rune essence, and leaving us begging for spare change at the GE? Or is it a tool that can augment our adventures and enhance the overall gameplay experience?

So, fellow players, let's gather our thoughts and explore the intersections of AI and Runescape. Are you ready to unravel the secrets of this digital sorcery? Share your insights, theories, and maybe even a few Runescape puns along the way. The floor is yours!

Remember, the more knowledge we gather, the better prepared we'll be to face the future, both in Gielinor and beyond.

[Yuanrang]

This in particular is one of those topics that is extremely relevant to me. Teaching and education as a whole will definitely change as a result of the availability of AI, and how it has become so accessible for people.

 

Already there is a major discussion about the lengths of which students can plagiarise and cheat on the work they do, but as a teacher, I find that to be the most pointless discussion on the subject of AI. I say this due to two simple reasons:

 

1. Those that want to cheat, will try to cheat, no matter the method or tools they need. AI does not really change that fact, it just adds more tools to the mix.
2. Institutions that govern education will always want to catch cheaters, coming up with ways, means and tools to catch cheaters. If digital tools become impossible to detect, I would imagine Universities would simply revert back to pen and paper in an extreme counter-measure.

Considering the above points will always be valid, the interesting part about discussing AI stems from how it affects the teachers. I have done some preliminary testing that shows that AI can be of major assistance. I tinkered around with AI a bit to see whether AI could help me create various plans and curriculums if I feed it enough parameters, and it was able to crawl through enough sources to create a nearly competent plan, which only took about 30 minutes to fix. What should have taken me several hours of work, was cut down to just 30-40 minutes.

I also read an article about a group of Norwegian University professors which were testing AI in terms of grading exams at University level in a range of fields, and early data seems to indicate that that particular AI (which was not an education-based AI) was already qualified enough to assess the exams with 85-100% precision. Ultimately, this means that if an AI will do most of my grading for me, and it will just require the human input, it would cut down on dozens of, or even above a hundred, work hours per year. If I could master AI tools, I can easily see myself having to do much less work for my salary, and that is a thought that wildly appeals to me. I do, however, think that it is going to cause a major gap between teachers though, as those that are technically competent will thrive in a modern AI education system, and those technically incompetent will struggle a lot. From how things look like, however, it will certainly revolutionise Education.

I am genuinely curious over how AI will be in a year from now, 5 years and even15 years. In 15 years I will be 50, and the technological progression in just half a century is on track to have been insane.  

[gazisere]

It's fascinating to delve into the potential of AI in the education industry and explore both its advantages and challenges. Your perspective as a teacher adds a valuable insight into this evolving landscape.

I've come across some AI tools that aim to strike a balance between providing guidance to students and preventing them from outright plagiarism. These tools are designed to nudge students in the right direction, much like a tutor would, rather than spoon-feeding them the answers. However, it's worth noting that students can always seek out alternative AI tools that might help them generate the perfect answer without fully comprehending the subject matter. It's a constant cat-and-mouse game between educators and students seeking shortcuts.

What personally concerns me is the potential lack of transparency in AI decision-making processes. As we entrust AI with internet access and empower it with tools to produce desired outcomes, we must also ensure that we understand how it arrives at those outcomes. The "black box" nature of some AI systems raises questions about accountability and comprehension. It's crucial for us to explore methods that enable us to trace the decision-making path and process of AI, similar to how a child's brain develops and learns over time. Understanding the ethical and moral aspects of AI is a pressing topic that should be at the forefront of discussions.

In fact, I recently stumbled upon a captivating video that delves into teaching AI like we would teach a child, gradually instilling it with ethics and morals. This approach aims to ensure that the decision-making process of AI remains transparent and comprehensible, enhancing trust and accountability in the technology. By having a clear view of how the machine reaches its conclusions, we can better evaluate its judgments and align them with our educational objectives.

As you mentioned earlier, you conducted preliminary testing with AI, which proved to be a major asset in creating plans and curricula. It's truly remarkable how AI can crawl through vast amounts of data and generate competent plans in a fraction of the time it would take a human. This can significantly reduce the workload for educators and free up time for other essential tasks. I also find it intriguing that AI has the potential to assist in grading exams accurately, streamlining the assessment process and saving countless hours for teachers.

Looking ahead, the future of AI in education is a thrilling prospect. Technological advancements have indeed been exponential in recent decades, and it's exciting to ponder how AI will revolutionise education further.

Overall, the transformative potential of AI in education is undeniable. It presents opportunities for increased efficiency, personalised learning experiences, and breakthroughs in pedagogy. As we embrace AI, we must strive to foster a symbiotic relationship between human educators and technology, harnessing the strengths of both to create an educational environment that nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. With careful consideration and ongoing dialogue, we can shape a future where AI enhances education while maintaining our core values and ensuring transparency in its decision-making processes.

 

[Yuanrang]

One of the things I have realized is that the use of AI is going to change society to think in different terms. For some professions, this is literally the modern technical equivalent to the industrial revolution. Where once a weaver or a spinner found themselves obsolete compared to a machine that just performed at a different rate, so will modern day professions in the face of AI evolutions.

I fully recognise that a lot of teaching can be done by AIs, but at the same time, teaching is highly dependant on the social interaction and forming solid educational bonds with students. An AI cannot provide that for quite some time, so luckily I am safe in my job. 

 

Looking back on it, it would have been interesting to go back 20 years in time and use a current day AI to write forum posts. Would anyone truly notice? How much editing would need to be done of the posts to pass off as a regular human being? Take current day AI-generated art, game GFX, music and other creative fields designed by AI that is causing issues. How skilled do you have to be to be able to separate an actual artist from an AI? 

..and if the boundaries are becoming hard to differentiate, how then are we going to handle people abusing the capabilities of AI?  

[gazisere]

You've brought up some thought-provoking points about the impact of AI on society. It's true that AI has the potential to revolutionize various professions, just like the industrial revolution did in the past. Automation and AI advancements may render certain job roles obsolete or drastically change the way they are performed.

While AI can be a valuable tool in education and assist with teaching tasks, it currently lacks the ability to provide the social interaction and form meaningful bonds with students that human teachers can offer. So, for now, your job as a teacher seems secure in that regard.

Reflecting on the past, it would indeed be fascinating to go back in time and use a current-day AI to write forum posts. The development of AI language models has come a long way, and with the right adjustments and editing, it's possible to create AI-generated content that closely resembles human writing. This raises questions about how skilled one must be to distinguish between AI-generated content and that produced by a human.

As AI continues to advance in creative fields like art, game graphics, and music, it becomes increasingly challenging to differentiate between work created by an AI and that of a human artist. This blurring of boundaries can pose certain challenges. For example, if someone were to misuse AI capabilities, it could lead to issues like plagiarism, copyright infringement, or even the creation of deepfake content that deceives and manipulates people.

Addressing these concerns requires a combination of technological solutions, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations. As AI technology progresses, it becomes crucial to establish guidelines, regulations, and accountability frameworks to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI. Collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and society as a whole is essential to navigate the evolving landscape of AI and its potential abuses.

It's an exciting yet complex journey we're on, and striking the right balance between harnessing the benefits of AI and addressing its challenges will be key in shaping a positive future for society.

[Yuanrang]

Hmm, I see that AI at least cannot adapt itself to sound more human in its behaviour when the issue is broached.. for now.