人工智能的“阴阳”面

山东泰安第一中学 田永娱

人工智能是一把双刃剑。 人工智能带来的积极变化是否会超过其带来的风险，现在下结论还为时过早，但它将终结传统的做事方式，为商业和整个世界开启一个新时代。

Janus, the Roman god, has two faces looking in opposite directions. So does artificial intelligence (AI). On one side are the positive changes, enabling people to achieve more, far more quickly, by using technology to improve their existing skills.Look the other way, though, and there are plenty of potential pitfalls.

Like Janus, technological change may also cause disruption(混乱), but AI is likely to have a bigger impact than anything since the appearance of computers, and its consequences could be far more disruptive.

In the years ahead, AI will raise three big questions for bosses and governments. One is the effect on jobs. Although CEOs publicly praise the broad benefits AI will bring, their main interest lies in cutting costs. One European bank asked Infosys to find a way of reducing the staff in its operations department from 50,000 to 500. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that by 2030 up to 375m people, or 14% of the global workforce, could have their jobs replaced by AI.

The second important question is how to protect privacy （隐私） as AI spreads. The Internet has already made it possible to track people's digital behavior in minute detail. AI will offer even better tools for businesses to monitor consumers and employees, both online and in the physical world.Consumers are sometimes happy to go along with this if it results in personalised service or promotions.But AI is bound to bring invasion of privacy that is seen as unacceptable. For example,law-enforcement officials around the world will use AI to spot criminals, but may also monitor ordinary citizens.

The third question is about the effect of AI on competition in business. A technology company that achieves a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence could race ahead of rivals, put others out of business and lessen competition. This is unlikely to happen in the near future, but if it did it would be of great concern.

It is too early to tell whether the positive changes brought by AI will outweigh the risk. But it will put an end to traditional ways of doing things and start a new era for business and for the world at large.

Reading Check

1. Why is Janus mentioned?

A. To support AI.

B. To tell its difference.

C. To introduce the topic.

D. To praise the Roman god.

2. What does the underlined word “pitfalls” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A. Risks. B. Effects.

C. Benefits. D. Consequences.

3. What's the main idea of the passage?

A. Privacy is threatened by AI.

B. AI is a double-edged sword.

C. AI will enjoy a bright future.

D. People show great concern about AI.

4. What's the author's attitude towards AI?

A. Positive. B. Worried.

C. Objective. D. Subjective.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

It is too early to tell whether the positive changes brought by AI will outweigh the risk.

【翻译】_____________________________________________________________________________

【点石成金】这是一个主从复合句，句型为“It is +形容词+不定式”，It作形式主语，真正的主语是不定式结构to tell whether the positive changes brought by AI will outweigh the risk，其中whether the positive changes brought by AI will outweigh the risk作动词tell的宾语从句。