Is AI making us lazy?

For which tasks does it make sense to use AI – and where is it better to avoid it?

AI can assist us with a vast array of tasks, such as press releases, medical diagnoses or schoolwork. We have not yet even realised the full potential of AI! However, we should define the conditions for the responsible use of AI and avoid creating new dependencies that we may one day regret. We should be particularly cautious wherever the shaping of interpersonal relationships, artistic creativity, decision-making and the assessment of human performance are involved, such as in court, at university or in recruitment. That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be fantastic AI-based art! However, responsibility for processes and products must remain with humans.

What advice would you give to people whose jobs are being significantly transformed by AI, or are even being made redundant?

We are currently witnessing the effects of AI, which threaten to overwhelm us and which we have never experienced before in our lifetimes. This also includes a decline in new recruitment and higher unemployment as a result of AI deployment. Unlike other countries, we in Germany live in a social market economy. This means that those affected should be supported and given opportunities for retraining and a fresh start. It is important that we do not call these fundamental principles into question and that we future-proof our welfare state. Developing AI skills will become a lifelong task for all of us. In many sectors, such as media or medicine, AI does not completely replace human activity, but rather complements it. It is important to face the challenges posed by AI head-on and to build up our skills. To do this, individuals rely on up-to-date provision from institutions such as adult education centres and associations. We must design our educational institutions in such a way that they can equip us all with the necessary AI skills.

What rules are needed for the use of AI, and who do you think should set and monitor them?

The EU AI Regulation (AI Regulation) already seeks to ensure the responsible use of AI. This includes, for example, the classification of risk categories, specific requirements for so-called ‘high-risk AI systems’, and the stipulation that providers and operators of AI systems must ensure that the necessary skills are imparted (Art. 4 AI Regulation). Here, as with data protection, the EU is charting its own course. It aims for a high level of protection and seeks to mitigate risks. From a technological ethics perspective, this is fundamentally correct. However, we must always examine whether the legal framework might not be excessive, outdated or even harmful. Ethical responsibility implies the capacity for reform!