AI or Artificial Intelligence! You might not have heard this word back in 2016 or 15 as often as we do today. AI envelops us, despite our inability to fathom a life devoid of its presence.
Remember the time when the internet was introduced first in 1983? Well, most of you might not have even been born, but look at us now. There is no single day when we can imagine our life without the internet. From home to our workplaces, from schools to playgrounds, we are closer to the internet than we may be to ourselves.
However, we cannot say that AI is the same for us as the internet. Still, the artificial intelligence race is definitely at its higher speed and soon to count as one of our necessities as currently internet is.
“The Wireless is the key to the future. Through it, we will be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. We will be able to see one another as clearly as if we were face to face. We will be able to transmit power across the globe without wires.” Nikola Tesla, 1926
What Nikola Tesla predicted then, we are witnessing now. His belief that technology would eventually lead to a world is true, considering the internet, transportation, electricity and healthcare. However, according to some visionaries, artificial intelligence’s definition doesn’t align with the book of technology. The reason is why? Why does AI count as an ideology, not technology? Let’s find the answer in this blog of AI Ideology!
AI: An Ideology or A Technology?
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Glen Weyl
Glen Weyl, a researcher at Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, asserts that AI is an ideology rather than a mere technology. He argues that our understanding of AI is shaped by our individual convictions and values, leading to a multitude of perspectives on AI’s trajectory. For example, certain individuals firmly believe that AI will eventually surpass human intelligence, potentially leading to the downfall of humanity. Conversely, others maintain that AI will function as a potent tool capable of addressing several of the globe’s most urgent issues.
Not just Glen Weyl, many futurists such as Max Tegmark, Nick Bostrom, and Yuval Noah Harari claimed that AI is more than just a technology. It has the potential to change the world in many ways.
As we revisit the history of AI, we can see that it was primarily acknowledged as a technological tool, lacking the traits of an ideology that embraces a distinct set of concepts concerning intelligence and the methods for creating intelligent machines. However, our personal beliefs and values have molded these ideas, leading to a wide range of viewpoints about the potential advancement of AI.
History Of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At times, AI may seem like a relatively recent technological advancement. After all, it has become widely used only in the past few years. In fact, early in the 20th century, the foundations for AI were laid. Although the most significant advancements weren’t made until the 1950s, they wouldn’t have been feasible without the early specialists’ contributions in various sectors.
The Inception Of AI – Artificial Intelligence Definition
“The science and engineering of making intelligent machines” Stanford Professor John McCarthy
Although in Artificial Intelligence Definition, Ai is widely viewed as a technology, it is an ideology. This is a result of the fact that AI goes beyond only creating sentient objects. It also concerns how we view intelligence and how society uses technology.
1950s:
John McCarthy, also called the father of Artificial Intelligence, credited the term “artificial intelligence” as the first AI program computer programming language LISP designed to manipulate data strings easily. However, it was pretty primitive and could only do relatively simple tasks.
1960s:
AI research witnessed substantial progress marked by the development of novel methods and techniques. Notably, one of the pioneering achievements was the creation of the first proficient machine learning software. Arthur Samuel spearheaded this innovation, inventing Computer Checkers, a program designed to engage in games of checkers on computing systems.
1970s:
The downfall of AI, which is also called AI winter. The book “Perceptrons,” written by Marvin Minsky and Seymour Papert, criticizes early attempts at artificial intelligence that relied on neural networks. Their publication significantly impacted and decreased funding for AI research due to many researchers quitting their jobs. The AI winter lasted for about 10 years, from 1970 to 1980.
1980s:
With the introduction of new technologies like expert systems and neural networks, AI research started to improve. The LISP programming language, created by John McCarthy, ends up being the one AI research prefers to use.
1990s:
With the advancement of novel technologies like machine learning and deep education, AI research enters a new golden age. The world chess champion Garry Kasparov was defeated by IBM’s Deep Blue chess-playing computer. This was seen as a significant turning point in AI research.
2000s:
AI hit the high new rock in 2000 and advanced quickly, creating virtual assistants and self-driving automobiles. The release of Siri, the first virtual assistant, left a deep mark in AI history. A Program known as a virtual assistant, could do tasks and provide answers to users.
2010s:
The prevalence of AI surged with the introduction of innovative tools such as facial recognition software and recommendation engines. A pivotal moment in AI research occurred when AlphaGo, a Go-playing computer developed by Google DeepMind, triumphed over Lee Sedol, the reigning world Go champion. This event marked a significant turning point, underscoring the advancements achieved in the field of AI.
2020s:
The emergence of a groundbreaking phase in artificial intelligence occurred with the development of GPT-3, an achievement attributed to OpenAI. This substantial leap in AI technology is epitomized by GPT-3, an influential language model capable of generating text, facilitating language translation, generating diverse forms of creative content, and furnishing informative responses to inquiries. The profound societal implications stemming from the capabilities of GPT-3 are poised to leave a lasting impact.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Evolving From Technology to Ideology
Even while there are numerous tasks that humans excel at more than AI, this is not always the case. For instance, many of the duties performed by a person in sales (digital or telephone), service, or document handling (such as payables, accounting, or insurance claim disputes) call for decision-making but not the capacity for ongoing learning. For these tasks, businesses provide training programs and, in most circumstances, plenty of examples of both good and bad work. These data sets are used to train humans, and very soon, they will be used to train the AIs that will enable humans to perform this work more effectively. (Gates Notes)
The assertion that AI is evolving from merely a technology into an ideology is intriguing. The above statement from Gates Notes says it all. However, its impact and integration into various aspects of society can give rise to ideological implications.
AI As A Technology:
At its core, AI is a technology based on advanced algorithms and computational models that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks range from image and speech recognition to data analysis and decision-making.
In this context, the emphasis on decision-making through continuous learning underscores that AI is an ideology that can be operated in accordance with values and beliefs.
On the other hand, AI systems learn from data and improve their performance over time through machine learning and deep learning. This technological aspect of AI is firmly grounded in its algorithms, data-driven learning, and programming.
AI’s Ideological Implications:
While AI is indeed a technology, its integration into society and the way it influences human activities can lead to ideological considerations:
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Ethics and Values:
The deployment of AI raises ethical questions related to decision-making, bias, privacy, and autonomy. Discussions around these issues can lead to the formation of ideological perspectives on the role AI should play in shaping society’s values.
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Socioeconomic Impact:
The widespread adoption of AI has economic and societal implications. Debates about AI’s impact on jobs, inequality, and social structure can give rise to ideological viewpoints on managing these changes.
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Human-Machine Collaboration:
As AI increasingly collaborates with humans, questions arise about the balance of power and control. Different ideologies may emerge regarding the level of autonomy AI should possess and the extent of human involvement.
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Trust and Governance:
The design and regulation of AI systems involve transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness decisions. Ideological differences may emerge concerning the degree of openness and governance required.
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Cultural and Social Norms:
AI’s integration into cultural practices and social norms can trigger discussions on preserving traditions and values while embracing technological advancements.
The AI Ideology and Its Discontents
Fig2. AI Discontents
“The term “artificial intelligence” is often used loosely and can be misleading. It is not a specific technological advancement but a subjective measure of tasks we classify as intelligent. (WEIRD)
In the intricate landscape of technology and global diplomacy, an unsettling apprehension has taken root—one that centers around China’s presumed upper hand in the artificial intelligence race for supremacy. This prevailing narrative underscores the anxiety prevalent in both spheres, contending that China’s unique positioning, unburdened by the data collection constraints of liberal democracies and equipped with centralized resource allocation capabilities, might propel it past the Western world.
The prevailing belief, it seems, is that AI’s insatiable thirst for data is at odds with the West’s staunch emphasis on privacy—an indulgence that, according to some, we can ill afford.
However, according to this narrative, the core idea is that whichever global power attains the coveted milestone of superhuman AI intelligence first will be positioned to assert dominance.
But let us tread cautiously in this narrative’s footsteps. Could our fixation on China’s perceived AI prowess be somewhat misplaced? What if, instead of pointing fingers at diverging ideas about privacy, the root of the West’s vulnerability lies within our very conception of AI itself?
Shifting the Lens
Let’s take a step back and view things from a new angle—an angle that doesn’t focus solely on AI itself but on the people who shape its path.
In every situation where AI seems to take the lead, there’s another way to look at it. It ends with the result that emphasizes that AI unintentionally diverts the world’s attention from humans’ role in the process.
AI as a Distraction:
Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach potentially obscures a broader and more intricate reality. Although AI undeniably showcases its capabilities in diverse domains such as medicine, robotics, language, and image processing, it might become entangled in a narrative that insufficiently recognizes the collaborative endeavors of humans in advancing information systems.
This viewpoint could conceal the complex dance between technology and society underpinning these advancements.
Reframing AI:
Artificial Intelligence‘s role goes beyond technology. It influences how we think and believe. People say humans are vital for AI, while others emphasize we’re all connected. AI shapes our beliefs by shaping ethics, money, teamwork, trust, and culture.
The saying “AI is becoming ideology” reflects the talks it sparks, not that AI is an ideology itself.”
As AI engages with society, a fresh mindset emerges, where technology and beliefs harmonize. It’s akin to a dance of concepts, unveiling global shifts. Yet, we can harness this blend of concepts through our free guest post feature, offering a chance to safeguard and disseminate your viewpoints.
Let your AI ideas flow with the AI Ideology!
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