Ketcia Peters

Thursday 27 June 2024

Artificial Intelligence is redefining our lives

by Ketcia Peters

In today’s rapidly changing world, the great potential of artificial intelligence is redefining our lives in ways we could not have predicted only a few years ago.

AI is transforming the basic structure of our society, from healthcare to education, from labour to communication.

And now is the time to acknowledge how AI can be a game changer for minorities and underrepresented communities. Historically, marginalized people have often been left out of the advantages of technological advancement, but AI has the potential to level the playing field. AI has the ability to tear down barriers and create new opportunities by making knowledge and resources more available to everyone. Like the internet was, and continues to be, at its root

Despite these incredible possibilities, enormous power inevitably entails immense responsibility.

While AI can uplift and empower, it also has the potential to perpetuate current injustices if not carefully designed and implemented. Our society’s biases can unwittingly make their way into AI systems, resulting in racial, economic, and social discrimination.

We must approach AI development and deployment with justice and equity in mind, ensuring that these powerful tools bridge, not increase, gaps.

Similarly, AI’s ability to alter businesses and economies carries both promise and uncertainty. It can automate routine chores and generate economic progress, but it also presents obstacles, particularly for economically disadvantaged places. Anticipating these developments and investing in reskilling and upskilling projects will be critical in preparing our workforce for the future and ensuring that no one falls behind.

The ethical considerations surrounding AI are extensive, complicated, and ever-changing. Covering privacy, security, and what it means to be human.

As AI becomes more incorporated into our lives, we must approach these new waters cautiously and honestly. Transparency and accountability in AI development are more than simply principles; they will guide us to a future in which technology serves humanity’s greatest interests.

However, AI’s potential is both phenomenal and nerve-racking.

It presents the chance to use technology in ways that promote inclusion, equity, and justice for all.

By embracing AI’s potential while keeping aware of its limitations, we may create a future that matches our highest principles and aspirations.

The actual power of AI resides in how we use it to create positive change for all.

Ketcia Peters is an entrepreneur and community advocate for economic inclusion and development for Black Canadians and the social justice sector. Her firm, Ketcia Peters Group Inc. (KPG) provides bilingual organizational and human development services to the public and private sector.  This includes analysis and coaching of HR practices, strategic planning, organizational change, equity and inclusivity, and anti-racism. KPG also provides individual and group coaching.  In recent years, KP Group Inc. has shifted to greatly expand its equity, diversity and inclusivity work at the municipal and community level, with a focus on anti-racism and anti-oppression.  This work centers on a trauma-informed approach in order to ensure we do not cause further harm to those most marginalized in our communities. Visit her website at: https://ketciapeters.com/