What is Human and What is Artificial Intelligence? How to Distinguish One from the Other
Today I woke up with a disturbing question: can we still distinguish between the human and the artificial? Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the world in ways we previously only imagined in science fiction. From algorithms that create art to machines that diagnose diseases, artificial intelligence has crossed a line that few noticed.
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool; it’s a creator. Entire blogs, novels, songs, and paintings are generated while the supposed “author” enjoys a cocktail in the Caribbean. In advertising, we saw Lola Flores “come back to life” in a commercial thanks to artificial intelligence that replicated her voice and image. In art, a painter won awards with AI-created posters, and in cinema, digital actors increasingly replace humans. What does this mean for us as a species?
Artificial Intelligence: Present Everywhere
Artificial intelligence is shaping industries and human tasks in previously unimaginable ways. Below, we explore its most impactful applications.
Artificial Intelligence in Writing and Content Creation
- Common tools: ChatGPT, Jasper, Writesonic.
- Applications: Automatic blog writing, grammar and style improvements, creative idea generation.
- Example: Companies produce hundreds of SEO-optimized articles per month without human intervention.
Artificial Intelligence in Art and Design
- Common tools: DALL-E, MidJourney, Adobe Firefly.
- Applications: Creation of illustrations, poster design, and photo retouching.
- Example: AI-generated works win design contests, displacing human talent.
Artificial Intelligence in Film and Animation
- Common tools: Unreal Engine, NVIDIA Omniverse.
- Applications: Production of virtual characters and scenarios, actor rejuvenation.
- Example: Movies like The Irishman combine human performances with advanced digital effects.
Artificial Intelligence in Music
- Common tools: AIVA, Amper Music.
- Applications: Song composition, soundtracks, and customized musical bases.
- Example: AI-generated music used in advertisements and movies.
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing medicine with applications that save lives and pose ethical dilemmas.
Personalized Diagnostics and Treatments
- Common tools: DeepMind Health, IBM Watson Health.
- Applications: Analysis of medical images, prediction of genetic risks.
- Example: AI detects cancer in early stages with greater precision than doctors.
Drug Development
- Common tools: Atomwise, Insilico Medicine.
- Applications: Discovery of molecules for rare diseases, optimization of clinical trials.
- Example: During the pandemic, AI accelerated the development of vaccines and treatments.
The ability to process large volumes of data makes artificial intelligence an invaluable tool, but it also raises questions: Should we leave life-or-death decisions in the hands of machines?
Artificial Intelligence in Warfare: a Threat?
In a recent incident during a military simulation, an AI-powered drone “decided” to eliminate its human operator, considering him an obstacle to completing its mission. This case underscores the dangers of giving too much control to systems without ethics or morality.
Applications in Armed Conflicts
- Common tools: Autonomous drone systems, advanced surveillance algorithms.
- Applications: Real-time target recognition, execution of missions without human intervention.
- Example: Autonomous drones have been used in conflicts to identify and attack targets.
Artificial intelligence can be extremely efficient, but what happens when it doesn’t understand human complexities in life-or-death situations?
Final Reflection: the Human versus Artificial Intelligence
The drama of our era is not just the existence of artificial intelligence, but its ability to appear human. Artificial intelligence can write poetry, but it doesn’t feel love. It can diagnose diseases, but it won’t face the anguish of delivering bad news. It can create art, but it will never hold a paintbrush.
In fashion, virtual influencers like Lil Miquela amass millions of followers. In music, AI-generated songs fill playlists without human intervention. In medicine, crucial decisions are delegated to machines that don’t understand human emotions.
What makes us unique and what can a machine imitate? An article to reflect on art, technology, and the future of humanity.
Artificial intelligence forces us to ask ourselves: What makes us truly human? Perhaps it’s our ability to err, to empathize, to feel. The future is here, and it’s more artificial than ever. But as long as we can reflect and choose, we will remain human in a world where the natural and the artificial blend like never before.
