Peril or promise & emerging Technologies ?

by Mujeeb ur Rehman

In last few years there is increase in the advancement of technologies and their use. Emerging technologies have changed the life styles of individuals and countries. Advancement in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning on one way solve the problems and on other way posed threats. The peaceful use is limited to nations and individuals but harmful use is not limited to few individuals and few countries, even global security is in threat after the advancement of AI. The main concern is how they are developed and how these advanced devices are deployed. Machine learning is helping in advanced areas like health care, fast way of transportation, reducing time to diagnose problems and to improvement in various aspects of life. AI will reduce the future jobs for low skilled people due to advancement in robotics. It is the duty of governments, international organizations to find the future path way for the best use of AI in their industry. Biotechnological advancements have the potential to cause threats and has the power to be used for malicious purposes. Terrorist organizations and terrorists if developed biological weapons of mass destruction will cause new threats for states and individuals. There is possibility of causing wide spread arm. In South Asia yet there exist three recognized nuclear powers namely China, India and Pakistan. The emerging technologies adopted by China are posing threat for India, and the same technological advancement by India is directly threat for Pakistan. These three regional countries are located in same region in south Asia. But there are global threats of nuclear armed countries like US, Russia, North Korea, Iran and Israel. These countries that has been mentioned above are continuously in threats from their rivals. In time of cold war importantly Cuban missile crisis of 1962 there were less nuclear states, only US and Russia. Both the countries signed bilateral agreements of disarmament and arms control that were effective but with the passage of time other countries developed its nuclear arsenals and although no direct nuclear war has been fought with two nuclear states but risks always exist. In offence defense Where one state able to achieve advancement, the other state also searches and tend to acquire the advancement of emerging technologies. Cyber security needs the attention of states and individuals related to it. Cyber criminals can take data of one state security secrets and transform to other states, that will cause miscalculations and ultimately has the potential of future threats. Smart phones and laptops, computers, data providing devices are not safe as they were safe previously. The money amount of individuals, organizations have been reported that hackers has get access and many people were bankrupted. On one side AI advancement has created various plat forms to save money and amount on various international digital platforms and on other side it has caused various ways that hackers can get easily access to it. Various digital viruses has the potential to bypass traditional security measures. Businesses of various people have been impacted after the repeatedly attacks of hackers.One of the major risks that needs the attention of state is money laundering, terrorism financing after the advancement of block chain technology. The digital currencies are used to help the terrorists and use of an unknown identity that has become a challenge for state’s security. Emerging technologies were meant for the advancement and improvement indifferent areas like health, transforming industries, business, and advancement in quality of life. Unfortunately, the emerging technologies, advance AI are causing real threats and ethical dilemmas. All the states have responsibility to take these risks sincerely and real in sense and provide alternate solution to the threats and risks. Only through enhanced security and proper frame work in which all threats and risks are clearly identified then emerging technologies and advance AI will be helpful

The author is M.phil scholar and can be reached via mujeeb33493@gmail.com