Section A
Conversation Two
W: How do you feel about the future of artificial intelligence? Personally, I feel quite optimistic about it.
M: AI? I’m not so optimistic, actually. In fact, it’s something we should be concerned about.
W: Well, it will help us humans understand ourselves better. And, when we have a better understanding of ourselves, we can improve the world.
M: Well, one thing is for sure: Technology is evolving faster than our ability to understand it. And in the future, AI will make jobs kind of pointless.
W: I think artificial intelligence will actually help create new kinds of jobs which would require less of our time and allow us to be centered on creative tasks.[Q6]
M: I doubt that very much. Probably the last job that will remain will be writing AI software. And then eventually, AI will just write its own software.
W: At that time, we’re going to have a lot of jobs which nobody would want to do, so we’ll need artificial intelligence for the robots to take care of the old guys like us.
M: I don’t know. There’s a risk that human civilization could be replaced by a superior type of digital life.[Q7] AI will be able to completely simulate a person in every way possible. In fact, some people think we’re in the simulation, right now.
W: That’s impossible. Humans can’t even make a mosquito. Computers only have chips. People have brains and that’s where the wisdom comes from.
M: Once it’s fully developed, AI will become tired of trying to communicate with humans. As we would be much slower thinkers in comparison.
W: I’m not so sure. A computer is a computer and a computer is just a toy.
M: Computers can easily communicate incredibly fast, so the computer will just get impatient talking to humans. It will be barely getting any information out.
W: Well, I believe there’s a benevolent future with AI. I also think you watch too many science fiction films.
Q5: What do we learn about the speakers from the conversation?
Q6: What will new kinds of jobs be like, according to the woman?
Q7: What is the risk the man anticipates?
Q8: What is the man’s concern about AI technology?