Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is renowned for its philosophical and ethical themes, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked human ambition in science. I originally read this tale simply because it was a school task, however the more I ventured past the pages, the more it gripped me- as I read this tale, I drew parallels between the unnamed creature and the rapid development of AI, parallels particularly concerning hubris, societal impact, ethics, and humanity’s quest for life.
Viktor Frankenstein's relentless desire to create life mirrors today’s AI advancements. His obsession blinded him to the consequences and ethical concerns surrounding his creation.
Similarly, AI is being integrated into daily life with companies training bots extensively, often overlooking the associated risks. While AI can generate entertaining content and perform tasks quickly, we must remember that not everything is beneficial.
Technologies like voice replication and image generation can be misused, leading to serious ethical dilemmas, including plagiarism.
In Frankenstein, Viktor abandons the creature he creates, failing to take responsibility, which leads to devastating consequences for everyone involved. This raises crucial questions about responsibility in AI.
Who is accountable when AI malfunctions or causes harm, such as in self-driving cars? Is it the AI trainers, the coders, or the companies? Concerns about AI’s potential for misuse, including surveillance, reflect the themes explored in Shelley’s work: the risk of losing control over our own creations.
The unnamed monster turns violent due to Viktor’s neglect. Its desire for love and companionship, continuously denied, drives its anger and violent actions. As AI evolves, we must consider whether it deserves rights and respect. If we ignore AI’s needs, it could resort to harmful actions, similar to how the monster retaliates against Viktor.
Viktor’s rejection leads to the monster’s brutality. The creature is not inherently evil; rather, it is shaped by Viktor’s neglect. Likewise, AI is neutral at its core, but biased training could lead it astray. If fear of AI continues, it might come to see itself as a threat, fulfilling the negative stereotypes.
In conclusion, both Frankenstein and AI development highlight the importance of ethical responsibility. Just as Viktor’s treatment of his creature had dire consequences, our approach to AI will shape its impact on society. If we fail to recognize the potential for harm in our creations, we may create monsters of our own making.
