Pick Either Option A Or Option B And Write Your Response

Pick Either Option A or Option B and Write Your Response

For this project, please pick either Option A or Option B. Write your answers to the following questions in Short Essay Format. Be sure to include reasons and facts as required to support your answers. Total length of response for this assignment needs to be a minimum of 2 full pages; maximum response is 3 pages. Use MS Word or its equivalent.

Option A

Background: The “computer revolution” is here. The changes these machines are bringing to society are profound, if not revolutionary. Moreover, like many previous revolutions, the computer revolution is happening very quickly. The computer as defined today did not exist in 1950. Before World War II, the word computer meant a human being who worked at a desk with a calculating machine, or something built by a physics professor to solve a particular problem, used once or twice, and then retired to a basement storeroom.

Modern computers—machines that do a wide variety of things, many having little to do with mathematics or physics—emerged after World War II from the work of a dozen or so individuals in England, Germany, and the United States. The "revolution," however one may define it, began only when their work became better known and appreciated. These perceptions, which lay behind the widely held belief that computers would never find more than a limited (though important) market in the industrialized world, came mainly from looking at the new invention strictly in the context of what it was replacing: calculating machines and their human operators. That context was what limited the pioneers' vision. Whenever a new technology is born, few see its ultimate place in society.

The inventors of radio did not foresee its use for broadcasting entertainment, sports, and news; they saw it as a telegraph without wires. The early builders of automobiles did not see an age of "automobiles"; they saw a "horseless carriage." Likewise, the computer's inventors perceived its role in future society in terms of the functions it was specifically replacing in contemporary society. The predictions that they made about potential applications for the new invention had to come from the context of "computing" as they knew of. Though they recognized the electronic computer's novelty, they did not see how it would permit operations fundamentally different from those performed by human computers.

Assignment: Your challenge is to imagine the dynamics of an emerging technology. First, pick a current emerging high technology trend (innovation, invention, or gadget) that would utilize some new application of knowledge or scientific discovery. Then discuss, using your own opinion, what the ultimate uses of that technology might be. How will the impact of that technology affect civilization and life as we know it? What differences will it make? How might the evolution of that technology change social, political, and economic conditions? What beneficial effects or harmful effects will result? Look into the future and imagine the changes that might result from the use of that new technology.

Option B

Background: Historically, when we talk about the effects of technology upon society, we speak of major events like the golden spike, Kitty Hawk, UNIVAC, the horseless carriage, or the Bomb — events somewhat removed from our personal experience. But during the 19th and early 20th centuries, important interactions between technology and society took place closer to home, in daily life, work, and leisure. This technological revolution transformed everyday experiences through new ideas, inventions, and gadgets. Charles Duell, then the head of the U.S. Patent Office, once proclaimed in 1899 that “Everything that can be invented has been invented,” but he was wrong. The U.S. Patent Office remains busy, with continuous innovation and new ideas.

Assignment: Answer these two questions. Here is your opportunity to be creative and invent: Identify an everyday job that you dislike but must perform, and imagine an innovative way to accomplish the same task. If resources and time were unlimited, what new invention, technology, or gadget would you create? Why? Consider what makes the task tedious and how your invention could improve it.

Formatting Instructions

• All text must be 12-point font, double-spaced.
• Maintain one-inch margins on all sides.
• Place your name, class title, and date in the upper right corner of the first page.
• Below the name block, include the assignment title: “Project 2, Option A or Option B”.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph; do not add extra space between paragraphs.
• If your paper exceeds one page, include page numbers in the footer, centered or on the right.
• Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar errors.
• Answer in full paragraphs, at least two per question, elaborating with reasons and facts when appropriate.

Paper For Above instruction

In an era marked by rapid technological advances, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a groundbreaking high-tech trend exemplifies the profound potential of scientific discovery to reshape society. AI systems now evolve far beyond their initial applications, offering capabilities such as natural language processing, autonomous decision-making, and complex data analysis. The ultimate use of AI could encompass integration into everyday life, revolutionizing industries, enhancing efficiencies, and fostering new social dynamics. Personally, I believe that AI will become deeply embedded in healthcare, education, transportation, and governance, enabling real-time, personalized experiences and intelligent automation.

The impact of AI on civilization is anticipated to be transformative, with both beneficial and harmful potentials. On the beneficial side, AI could drastically improve healthcare diagnostics by analyzing vast datasets rapidly, leading to earlier detection and better treatment outcomes. Personalized learning experiences could be facilitated in education, tailoring curricula to individual student needs. Autonomous vehicles, powered by AI, promise to reduce accidents and traffic congestion, offering safer and more efficient transportation. Politically, AI could bolster transparency through data-driven policy analysis, but it also raises concerns about surveillance, privacy violations, and the potential for manipulating public opinion through automated misinformation campaigns.

The social fabric will also undergo significant evolution. On one hand, AI-driven automation may displace certain jobs, especially in manufacturing and administrative roles, potentially leading to economic disparities and social unrest. Conversely, new jobs requiring specialized skills in AI development and maintenance could emerge, demanding a shift in workforce education and policies. Economically, AI could boost productivity, create new markets, and facilitate innovative business models, but it may also exacerbate existing inequalities if benefits are unevenly distributed. Governments and societies need to establish regulations that maximize advantages while mitigating adverse effects, such as ensuring data privacy, ethical AI use, and inclusive growth.

Looking into the future, the beneficial effects of AI include the enhancement of human capabilities—serving as a partner rather than a replacement—supporting sustainable development goals, and solving complex global problems like climate change and resource management. However, the harms could involve loss of human oversight, AI-driven biases, and ethical dilemmas surrounding autonomy and control. Careful planning, ongoing governance, and international cooperation will be essential in harnessing AI's potential responsibly. Ultimately, AI's evolution could redefine what it means to be human, reshaping societal norms, economic structures, and political landscapes in ways we are only beginning to understand.

References

• Russell, S., & Norvig, P. (2020). Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th ed.). Pearson.
• Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., & Courville, A. (2016). Deep Learning. MIT Press.
• Stone, P., et al. (2016). "Artificial Intelligence and Life in 2030." One Hundred Year Study on Artificial Intelligence: Report of the 2015–2016 Study Panel. Stanford University.
• Kaplan, J. (2016). Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press.
• O’Neill, C. (2016). Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy. Crown Publishing Group.
• Floridi, L. (2018). "Artifices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Philosophy & Technology, 31(2), 165-177.
• Russell, S. (2019). Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. Viking.
• Moravec, H. (1988). "Mind Children's Future." Robotics and Automation Magazine, 10(1), 21-28.
• OpenAI. (2023). "The Road to Artificial General Intelligence." OpenAI Blog. https://openai.com/research/road-to-agi