Commentaries | Feb 10,2024
I stood in awe in front of my house, contemplating whether the realisation of the billionaire Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates had started being witnessed. Being very optimistic about humanity’s future amidst the challenges facing current and future generations, he said that it would be better to be born in the years to come than at any time in the past.
It is reported that Microsoft effectively controls the company ChatGPT while considering plans to incorporate the technology into its Office tools and apps. With an uncontainable grin, I struggled to find words of gratitude to those who helped make this possible.
China's state-controlled newspaper, People's Daily, the newest employee that affirms to have the skills of thousands of news anchors, was on my mind. Ren Xiaorong is an AI digital anchor, reporting news all year, round the clock, without rest, whether in the field or back in the studio. Reportedly, every conversation with her and every feedback provided would only make her smarter.
Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, the company that created ChatGPT, who has not signed on the letter, said that tools do good and really bad, promising to decrease the bad and increase the good.
However, he did not hide that he is particularly worried that these models could be used for large-scale disinformation. Now that they are getting better at writing computer code, they could be used for offensive cyber attacks.
I thought of the dangerous race that no one could predict or control, which forced Elon Musk, with a thousand other tech leaders, to call for its pause with a signed letter, a call for a six-month pause on AI development.
Amidst the thoughts, a red-coloured damper truck hit the cobblestone alleyway of my neighbourhood that passes in front of my house with indescribable speed. The shaking of the house brought me back to reality.
I thought about the incident’s potential to cause unexpected accidents. It could have brought a volatile, angry outburst on my side, swearing, speaking tactlessly, and saying hurtful things.
Instead, I took a deep breath and lamented all incidents that are increasingly being reported on the media from Addis Abeba, whether they are recorded or used to identify potential risks.
Thinking about whether checks on workplace conditions regularly are in place to ensure that all serious risks have been identified and assessed and controls are in place, I headed in the direction of the construction site where the truck was driven.
From a distance, I observed that mere lifting and carrying loads with squatting down and bending at the hips and knees were not adhered to. Tipping my head side to side, I concluded that key health and safety-related instructions given to and all health and safety procedures laid down for the workplace are disobeyed.
It looks like hazardous situations, incidents at work are not reported to the health and safety representative or immediate supervisor before the end of the work hour.
The dump truck driver was in good shape and presented on his duty. However, he was not safely performing all functions required for the operation of the truck.
He is undoubtedly able to understand and apply established rules, regulations, and safe practices. Yet, he was not alert of good judgment for his safety and others in an emotionally calm and capable manner.
It is time for occupational health and safety policies and procedures to assess the results of initial plans for realistic objectives and targets so that workplace conditions are regularly checked.
A Safety Talk program with various topics before the start of work helps an institution create awareness of potential work menace. Listening to workers' concerns and experiences while putting measures is the foundation of building an effective safety culture.
The overall objective of early identification of hazards and evaluation of the risk exposure through a task force intends to mitigate, prevent and control risk creating value for a safety culture equal to productivity.
Safety is not just a department or a skill but an attitude from being behind the wheel in the AI laboratory.
It is with such attitude the AI industry needs to consider in its six months now or during its nook to show the hallmarks of teamwork through building working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals.
It should demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of others, offer assistance, support, and feedback and work effectively and cooperatively. After all, a service-minded industry’s pillar is being accessible, reaching out to be helpful in a timely and responsive manner, striving to satisfy its external and internal customers, and being diplomatic, courteous, and welcoming.
Humanity can enjoy a flourishing future with AI. Having succeeded in creating powerful AI systems, we can now enjoy an "AI summer" in which we reap the rewards, engineer these systems for the clear benefit of all, and give society a chance to adapt.
Society has paused on other technologies with potentially catastrophic effects. Let us enjoy a long AI summer and not rush unprepared into a fall.
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