In the 1930s, H. G. Wells, author of “The War of the Worlds” (1898), wrote about a “World Brain.” His book was later adapted into a movie starring Tom Cruise and produced by Steven Spielberg in 2005.
Trapped in a time between two world wars, Wells was worried about a future where technology amplified the horrors of conflict. Information was becoming ubiquitous, with radio and communications enabling global sharing.
Despite humanity’s awareness of war’s lunacy and historical lessons highlighting its folly, Wells feared that wisdom was still absent. While utopia beckoned, dystopia was unfolding.
Why this matters
The world brain is here right now and it is changing our lives at a speed that challenges our thinking and evolution.
Nearly a century later (in 2022), we saw the release of ChatGPT and started to use its ability to ask questions of a “World Brain.” Some have called it the “Oracle.”
This technology was enabled by intersecting technologies. It began with computing, advanced through networking, and then expanded with the internet, quickly followed by the rise of the web and social media. Smartphones made this technology accessible everywhere and anytime, turning us all into creators of knowledge and information.
Information was digitally created, connected, and amplified on a global scale. The internet and the web enabled the creation, sharing, and discovery of information and intelligence worldwide. Today, we can interrogate, collect, and curate the world’s brain.
Going deeper
Science fiction writers, Hollywood folks and philosophers have imagined this brave new world for well over a century. So what are the parallels between the “World Brain” concept from the 1930s and AI in the 2020s?
The concept of a “World Brain,” as envisioned by H.G. Wells, in a series of essays between 1936 and 1938 (and expanded upon by Pomeroy in the book “H.G. Wells World Brain”) shares several parallels with the development and impact of artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence ChatGPT.
So what are the parallels between the “World Brain” imagined by H.G Wells in the 1930s and AI in 2024?
Here are seven.
7 Parallels between the “World Brain” and “Artificial Intelligence”
These parallels highlight how modern technology is moving us closer to the realization of a global knowledge network…and a “World Brain” imagined by H. G. Wells in the 1930s.
1. Centralized knowledge repository
The internet and the web enabled us to file and record human-created information on blogs and websites. Search engines then provided the technology to easily find this information with a simple search box.
AI tools like ChatGPT have surpassed traditional web searches by adding intelligence to the process. These tools can discover, curate, and distill information with a simple prompt, much like the familiar Google search box.
- World Brain: H.G. Wells imagined a centralized repository of human knowledge, accessible to everyone.
- AI: AI models like GPT-4 serve as vast repositories of information, trained on diverse datasets encompassing a wide range of human knowledge. These models can retrieve, process, and generate information on demand.
2. Democratization of knowledge
Continuing the comparison with Google, the mission of Google search was “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
AI and ChatGPT have given us both access to information and summarized it for us.
- World Brain: A key goal is making knowledge accessible to all, breaking down barriers of geography and socioeconomic status.
- AI: AI is increasingly being integrated into platforms that provide free or low-cost access to information and educational resources, thereby democratizing knowledge.
3. Information processing and curation
Huge amounts of data and information is one thing but making sense of it is another step. ChatGPT and the new “World Brain” takes from noise and complexity to distillation and simplicity. It is not perfect but it works well enough. Perfection is not required. But close enough is good enough.
- World Brain: The challenge of managing information overload and ensuring the relevance and accuracy of information.
- AI: AI excels at processing and curating vast amounts of data, using algorithms to filter and prioritize relevant information, thus addressing the problem of information overload.
4. Collaboration and connectivity
H.G. Wells was born and dead well before the invention of the internet and the web. His ideas on a world brain were about how pooled intelligence, collaboration and connectivity could maybe add to wisdom and prevent “stupid” wars by dictators craving power. He craved world peace in an era between two violent world wars.
At first glance, it appears that the web was the first step and the AI tools are the next step to achieve this vision.
- World Brain: Facilitating global collaboration among experts from different fields.
- AI: AI-powered platforms enable collaboration by providing tools for real-time communication, data sharing, and collective problem-solving across borders and disciplines.
5. Ethical and security considerations
This is a work in progress. But at least we are having a discussion about the AI “World Brain.”
In the early 2000s we saw the rise of social media and ethical considerations and security were not even raised. Social media wasn’t seen as a danger to mental health, disinformation parading as truth or our data sold on the web to the highest bidder (Eg: Cambridge Analytica) website security and even a threat to democracy.
We need guardrails for AI and we need to retrospectively add guardrails to social media. But the horse for social media rules that protect humans from the revenue maximizing algorithms of Meta (Facebook) and their cohorts has maybe bolted.
- World Brain: Concerns about privacy, data security, and the ethical use of information.
- AI: Similar concerns exist with AI, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the ethical implications of AI decisions. Ensuring robust data protection measures and ethical guidelines is critical.
6. Educational enhancement
In 1995, I opened my first web browser (Netscape) and my first thought and insight was “I will maybe not need to visit a library again.”
Knowledge resources are now a global library searched with one prompt. There are no limits on how many books a week you can have, that the book is not available because someone else borrowed it last week, you never have to go back and return it and you will never get a library fine from Google.
- World Brain: Promoting global education through accessible knowledge resources.
- AI: AI-driven educational tools personalize learning experiences, provide tutoring, and offer vast educational resources, enhancing global education opportunities.
7. Integration of emerging technologies
For artificial intelligence to emerge we needed intersecting technologies to be integrated. These include:
- The computer -This kicked off a new age of software and collaboration at universities and research labs.
- The personal computer – In everyone’s home and office desk.
- The internet – This connected the computers and allowed collaboration and world wide communication.
- The web (The Internet’s friendly face) – The Web Browser. That democratized the internet for the masses.
- The smartphone – This allowed everyone to publish and communicate everywhere and at any time.
- World Brain: The potential for new technologies to enhance the knowledge network are now in place. Evolution at the speed of light is now our human birthright.
- AI: AI continues to evolve with advancements in machine learning, natural language processing, and integration with other technologies like blockchain and quantum computing, which further enhance its capabilities.
So, how do we use the “World Brain” for good?
Any new technology offers promise but can also lead to abuse. I am not going to lean into the dark side here. Dystopia is compelling. It sells books, movies, media attention and goes viral. Social media algorithms are designed to accentuate drama and traffic. These are all about maximizing revenue and profit.
But let’s try to unearth some different ways for using the “World’s Brain” for good.
10 industry sectors that can make use of a “World Brain”
Here are ten ways we can use access to the world’s intelligence and a concept like the “World Brain,” facilitated by AI tools (like ChatGPT) for good.
1. Education and learning
The challenge is working out how to add more value to a sector that enhances us and amplifies our intelligence.
- Personalized education: Provide tailored educational resources and tutoring to students of all ages, adapting to their individual learning paces and styles.
- Lifelong learning: Support continuous education for adults, helping them reskill and upskill as needed in a rapidly changing job market.
2. Healthcare
In the last 100 years we have increased our longevity by 200%. We are all living 2 lives compared to our ancestors. But with AI we can do even better.
- Medical diagnostics: Assist healthcare professionals by providing insights into complex medical conditions, suggesting possible diagnoses, and recommending treatment options based on the latest research.
- Mental health support: Offer immediate, accessible mental health resources and support for individuals in need.
3. Scientific research
Science is all about doing research and trying to make sense of all the data and the noise. Discovering pattern recognition that unearths insights and things that matter.
- Research assistance: Aid scientists in literature reviews, data analysis, and hypothesis generation, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery.
- Global collaboration: Facilitate international collaboration among researchers, enabling them to share data and insights seamlessly.
4. Environmental protection
Collecting data that helps us create a sustainable planet and make wiser decisions is something AI can assist us with.
- Climate change mitigation: Analyze environmental data to develop strategies for combating climate change and protecting natural resources.
- Conservation efforts: Provide information and tools to support wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.
5. Disaster response
There is so much information that is collected by sensors and scientific research. AI can help us see the signal in the noise that can avert disasters.
- Early warning systems: Enhance early warning systems for natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes, potentially saving lives.
- Crisis management: Offer real-time information and coordination support during disaster response efforts.
6. Economic development
Economic growth powers our modern world. How can we do more with less? AI enhances humanity and wealth.
- Entrepreneurship support: Assist aspiring entrepreneurs with business planning, market research, and access to funding opportunities.
- Policy development: Help policymakers analyze economic trends and develop data-driven policies to promote sustainable development.
7. Social justice
What if you could interrogate the “Oracle” of AI to help you find different ways to seek social justice?
- Legal assistance: Provide legal information and support to individuals who cannot afford legal representation with a few prompts.
- Human rights advocacy: Support organizations working to protect and promote human rights globally by providing research and advocacy tools using tools built with ChatGPT.
8. Cultural preservation
The history of the world and its culture is what makes us human. AI can collect, curate and preserve our past for future generations.
- Digital archives: Create and maintain digital archives of cultural artifacts, languages, and traditions, preserving them for future generations.
- Language translation: Facilitate cross-cultural communication and understanding through advanced translation services.
9. Public safety
Finding out what information is important comes down to sifting through mountains of data. Making sense of this to improve public safety is essential in a world of 8 billion plus people.
- Crime prevention: Assist law enforcement agencies in analyzing crime data to develop effective prevention strategies.
- Community support: Provide resources and support for community safety initiatives and emergency preparedness.
10. Global connectivity
The internet connected us. The web gave us a screen to peer into the world and collect information. AI and the world brain helps us make sense of it. With a few prompts.
- Bridging the digital divide: Work to ensure equitable access to information and technology, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
- Fostering global dialogue: Promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding by connecting people from diverse backgrounds and facilitating meaningful conversations.
Wrapping it up
By leveraging the capabilities of AI and the concept of a “World Brain,” we can address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity and work towards a more informed, equitable, and sustainable world.
If H.G. Wells were alive today, he would be amazed by the technology and a world brain that is accessible for most. Unfortunately though, he would still (rightly) be concerned by our inability to ensure the dictators aren’t leading the innocent into more wars.
The post The 1930s Sci-Fi Vision That Became Our AI Reality appeared first on jeffbullas.com.
* This article was originally published here
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