Beware of “GAFA Addiction”

Sweeping the world through the power of AI —
GAFA (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple).
We asked foreign experts on the dangers that come with technological conveniences and
ways to work around them in the future.

You’ve heard the prophecy: Artificial intelligence (AI) will replace humans. In reality, AI has already substituted parts of our brains.

Before Google, we had to ask people or dig through books and resources to think, make decisions and gather information. We thought about where to find quality information and which of those to prioritize.

Now with Google, AI uses a ranking format to show us which information is personally relevant.

While it is “supplementing” our thought processes, it can be an “idea induction” for those that habitually Google things instantaneously.

The AI Age is an extension of this trend. As an example, in the near future, humans will embed chips into their brains to strengthen their logical thinking. It will be astoundingly convenient. Unfortunately, our brains will be further controlled.

You may have gotten chills from seeing Amazon recommend products that you’ve always wanted. Not only does this function apply to products, it is the same for information and data. On YouTube, AI recommends one video after another based on your interest and preferences. Many people are ecstatic at the eye-catching content and become addicted.

However, the cost of this is “time.” Those business models thrive from stealing time from their users and increasing advertisement revenues.

A Civil Plague Next to Obesity!?

“Lack of exercise” and “overnutrition” have caused a civil plague known as metabolic syndrome, which has damaged our health. If so, what will we lose from “depending on tech for ideas” or “extensive contact with media” caused by GAFA or AI?

One thing we will lose is inspiration, or the spark of genius. Have you ever gained a life-changing or work-changing revolutionary idea by going on your smartphone?

Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation while watching an apple fall from a tree during his research. Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin, came up with the idea of instant noodles while watching the front line of a cold food stand.

Collecting information is important for creation; however, it is said that the decisive factors are ‘encountering unexpected information’ and ‘time shutting out information.’ Steve Jobs once said, “I’m a big believer in boredom. Boredom allows one to indulge in curiosity and out of curiosity comes everything”. He favored ‘zen’ and limited his daughter’s use of technology. He knew that therein lies the seed of creation.

Rotting Inspiration

Inventor Thomas Edison said: “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Edison’s quote is misunderstood as emphasizing the importance of willpower, which explains the more than 10,000 trials he underwent to invent his lightbulb. However, it’s a bit different to that. Edison himself explained that without the 1% inspiration, his 99% perspiration would have been in vain.

This 99% trial-and-error rate is similar to what AI does— it finds the solution to a given problem based on masses of data. It is hopeful that AI will replace the need for “10,000 trials.”

But if we depend too much on AI and our 1% inspiration rots as a result, our life may be convenient but somewhat dull.

This is not only true for inspiration. The observance of moral ethics, dreams and passion don’t stem from information processing. These are things that seep from our heart and, from a religious perspective, they can be indications that God created humankind.

Currently, there are many debates happening in the world on the dangers and future of GAFA and AI.