Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer confined to research labs or tech startups—it has seeped into every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to finance, education to defense. But as AI grows smarter, faster, and more unpredictable, one question now dominates global debates: Are we losing control of Artificial Intelligence? This was the focal point of a recent Vantage with Palki Sharma episode on Firstpost, which dissected the promises and perils of this transformative technology.
The Pace of AI Evolution – Faster Than Human Oversight
AI is advancing at a breakneck pace, often outpacing regulatory frameworks and ethical considerations. From OpenAI’s GPT models to Google’s Gemini and China’s rapid AI expansion, the competition has created an arms race where speed trumps safety. Experts warn that without proper checks, we risk creating systems whose decision-making may surpass our ability to supervise them. This is particularly worrying because AI is self-learning—it doesn’t just execute commands, it improves upon them in ways that humans may not fully anticipate.
When Machines Decide: The Threat of Losing Human Control
One of the biggest anxieties around AI is its growing autonomy. Imagine a defense system making life-and-death decisions without human input, or financial algorithms triggering global market crashes in milliseconds. These scenarios, once seen as science fiction, are becoming increasingly plausible. The Vantage episode highlights the possibility that AI could evolve to a point where human oversight becomes irrelevant. Once machines start making decisions that even their creators can’t fully explain, accountability collapses—and that’s when control truly slips away.
Ethical Nightmares – Jobs, Surveillance, and Weaponization
AI is not just a tool; it is a force reshaping societies. The episode raises concerns about massive job losses due to automation, especially in developing nations where low-skill work dominates. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, over 800 million jobs worldwide could be displaced by AI and automation. Surveillance states are weaponizing AI to track citizens, suppress dissent, and tighten control. Even more alarming is the prospect of AI-powered weapons that could wage wars with minimal human involvement. If AI decides who lives and who dies, humanity could be outsourcing its most moral decisions to machines.
The Global Race for AI Dominance
The world’s leading powers—the US, China, and the EU—are racing to dominate AI. This race is not just about innovation but about control over future geopolitics. Nations with advanced AI systems will wield disproportionate influence over economics, military strength, and global narratives. China’s focus on surveillance AI, America’s dominance in generative AI, and Europe’s push for ethical AI reflect different priorities, but the common thread is competition. However, the speed of this competition has left little room for global cooperation on ethical safeguards, turning AI into a potential weapon of mass disruption.
Can Regulation Catch Up?
Governments are scrambling to regulate AI, but the technology is evolving faster than laws can adapt. The EU has introduced the AI Act, the US has proposed frameworks, and India is cautiously studying the impact. Yet, global experts stress that fragmented national regulations are not enough. Without coordinated international rules, the misuse of AI could spiral out of control. The risk is that by the time policymakers agree, AI may already have crossed thresholds of autonomy that cannot be rolled back.
What History Teaches Us – Technology Outrunning Humanity
History has shown us that every great invention—from nuclear power to social media—was developed faster than society could understand or control it. Nuclear technology gave us energy but also the threat of annihilation. Social media gave us connection but also polarization and misinformation. AI could follow the same pattern, but on a much larger and irreversible scale. The lesson: waiting until it is too late has always cost humanity dearly.
A Call for Global Accountability
Vantage with Palki Sharma closes with a sobering reminder: AI is humanity’s creation, but it may soon become a force beyond human restraint. The real question is not whether we can stop AI—it’s whether we can control it. Unless global leaders act swiftly to set boundaries, the risks of losing control of AI could outweigh its benefits.
The future of AI is a test of humanity’s ability to govern itself. If we fail, we may enter an era where algorithms—not humans—determine the fate of societies.
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Author: Nitin mittal
CA by qualification
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