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Every aspect of the world today is heavily influenced by technology. With innovations

such as Siri, Nest, and Teslas self-driving capabilities, the human race is becoming increasingly

dependent on electronics and automation. From the earliest stages of development, technology

has had many critics. Albert Einstein, for one, is quoted as saying, I fear the day that

technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.

Today, computers are already more capable than humans, and one might say that applied science

is leading the race toward its downfall. The glamour of Amazons delivery drones may seem

appealing, however, artificial intelligence poses many threats to the wellbeing of humanity.

One of the many drawbacks of artificial intelligence, or AI, is its extremely high cost of

development. Due to the cutting-edge technological aspects of artificial intelligence, necessary

software is extremely expensive to create. Typically, developers are paid $100 for each line of

computer code that they write for a project. In total, one piece of artificial intelligence could

require hundreds of millions of lines, costing billions of dollars to create digitally (Mahoney, 5).

These astronomical figures do not include the expensive and time-consuming task of building,

testing, and reworking physical technology. Looking at the job replacement aspect of AI, the

argument of high cost is further strengthened. Many applications of artificial intelligence

involve replacing the jobs of uneducated workers. One might think that eliminating millions of

paychecks would save companies money, however, the opposite is true. According to the U.S.

Labor Department, it costs companies $15,000 to replace one employee. Businesses must pay

for knowledge that is unique to each employee, such as their workplace dynamics. Human

interaction is an important aspect of any job, however, details regarding this element are rarely

recorded physically. Thus, a robot has to re-learn aspects of a job to which it may not have

access. As the digital age progresses, subordinate jobs will be eliminated first. This means that
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the average cost of employee replacement will increase as worker capability changes. The

percentage of lifetime salary paid to a worker, as well as the cost of relearning more complex

workplace habits both contribute to an ever-rising artificial intelligence cost (Mahoney, 5). The

implementation of AI and the creation of a robot-dependent society will place a significant

financial burden on the global community. Artificial intelligence has an impractically high cost

of creation, a price that society simply cannot pay without facing major regression and threats to

the wellbeing of humanity.

In addition to the exorbitant cost of developing artificial intelligence, AI is very

expensive to buy. Considering the aforementioned cost of production, companies must mark up

retail rates, essentially charging consumers to cover the manufacturing process. Evidence of this

idea is found in the extremely high price of industrial robots. In recent years, the initial purchase

cost of industrial robots, such as those used in factories, has soared upwards of $100,000. In a

particular subsection of robotics, the Baxter model costs $7,000 more than the paycheck of

each employee it replaces (Cost of Human vs Robot, 1). This difference between entry-level

worker pay and robot purchase price is common among numerous other models as well. Thus, it

is futile to pay more for artificial intelligence when doing so would significantly threaten the

wellbeing of humanity. With high purchase prices, companies outfitting a factory or warehouse

with many robots would have to spend tens of millions of dollars (How Much Do Industrial

Robots Cost?, 1). Such a financial burden could lead to the downfall of companies, and of

humanity itself. It may seem that buying artificial intelligence cuts the price of production,

however, monthly costs amass to a much greater total than companies initially expect, therefore,

threatening the balance of business in our world.

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While robots are costly to buy, artificial intelligence is ultimately more expensive to

maintain. The substantial purchase prices of robots do not take into account the many additional

costs associated with robot ownership, thus, there are many inordinate monthly payments needed

each month. With expenditures like software updates, electricity, warranty maintenance, and the

purchase of necessary accessories, buyers may be compelled to pay $1,000 per robot, per month.

Companies may have to pay $1,000 per robot, per hour for electricity alone in machines with

brainlike capabilities (Cost of Human vs Robot, 1). A complex capacity for understanding is

implemented more naturally in humans than in computers, thus, machines must labor more in an

effort to match human productivity. People do not require as much computing power as

automated brains, therefore, humans work at a much more efficient and competitive rate. It is

clear that there are many cost-related downsides to artificial intelligence, and although

modernization may seem favorable, AI is threatening to humanity.

The high cost of artificial intelligence will not only have a dreadfully negative impact on

business consumers, but also on the global economy. As jobs are eliminated or outsourced by AI

technology, societys most vulnerable and uneducated workers will be left without a reliable

source of income. As earnings continue to fall with an increasing presence of robots, consumers

will be unable to spend large quantities of money. This means that products and services will be

left unpurchased, leading to inflation and the further expanded inaccessibility of products.

Purchases support the global economy, and without consumer acquisitions, the fiscal structure

would collapse (Worrall, 5). Falling wages resulting from AI replacement will certainly lead to a

decreased quality of life, harming the economy and all of humankind.

The AI-era economy will also be negatively influenced by international competition. As

employees in Third World countries are displaced from their jobs, former call center operators
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will look to learn the advanced skills necessary for more protected and secure positions. Such

workers and the elevation of foreign labor capabilities will create competition with the United

States of America. Each country will vie to acquire jobs, likely resulting in global altercations

(Stucke, 1). Undoubtedly, such disputes would weaken diplomatic relations and business ties

with other nations, harming society as a whole.

International issues related to artificial intelligence can also be caused by global

production issues. In todays technologically dependent world, an abrupt withdrawal from

electronics could result in a catastrophic outcome. With the many developmental uncertainties

surrounding artificial intelligence, it is plausible that the industry could face production issues in

the near future. In a society that relies on automation, a lack of robots that are not desired, but

needed, would be both debilitating and detrimental to humanity. The absence of technology that

people depend upon would be more harmful after introduction than it would be if humans were

never formerly exposed (Berr, 1). The drastic decrease in both productivity and societal growth

would hurt the economy more than if there was no artificial intelligence originally. Clearly, a

variety of international issues in the creation or manufacturing of AI, would significantly impact

the global economy in a negative way, ultimately harming humanity in the process.

Artificial intelligence is not only troublesome due to its ability to damage the economy;

AI is also disadvantageous due to its lack of creativity. Individualization, a trait nearly exclusive

to humans, is a special characteristic that allows people to connect with others in a genuine way.

Developers who suggest that artificial intelligence be used in the customer service venue are

not considering machines emotional incapabilities. Robots cannot determine the relevance of

emotions, and, therefore, cannot interact with customers in the natural, personal way that all

clientele desire. In an interview with the University of Chicago, Albert Borgmann, a philosopher
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of technology who firmly believes in science, expressed that artificial intelligence is not unique

enough. Borgmann exclaims that, thankfully, there are, indications of a hunger for reality and

of a growing desire to seek the engagement of real people and real things. Whether one supports

this resolution of the ambiguities of cyberspace or not (Borgmann, 5). Borgmann indicates

that, although one may contentedly accept science, society as a whole prefers individualized

treatment. Artificial intelligence is too precise and too consistent to provide an experience

resembling the authenticity of people. Natural inclination is a unique feature that allows humans

to prosper and to rise above artificial intelligence. People desire personal interactions, however,

machines cannot meet this demand in the same capacity that humans can. Artificial intelligence

is, undoubtedly, a negative concept, as automation is unsuited to meet human needs.

In addition to its unpopular trite nature, AI places confining limitations on global

creativity. The use of international technology places stark restrictions on the cultural flair of

products created around the world, as robots have bleak uniformity. The inability to learn of

other cultures, through the purchase of products, leads to international disregard (Baker, 2).

Apathy makes compromise and cooperation difficult for the global community, and, therefore, is

a negative facet of AI. There is a clear link between artificial intelligence and cultural

indifference. Globally standardized technology limits opportunities to learn about others through

the products that they provide, therefore, impacting society in a negative way.

Artificial intelligence significantly hinders the spread of cultural awareness, while also

standardizing thought processes in a gaunt way. Machines are deficient in their ability to

recognize audience interests, as they lack global awareness and adequate knowledge of their

surroundings. Robots inability to productively reflect user activity leads to the spread of

standardized thought processes. When consumers have uniform experiences, they are more
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likely to live patterned, consistent lives. While stability may seem appealing and beneficial to

the order of society, coherence would lead to the downfall of humanity. Creativity is one of the

most unique and important human characteristics. Without imagination, world innovations

would come to a standstill, and the development of society would be adversely delayed (Baker,

2). Artificial intelligence employs austere ideas and ways of life that are passed on to users,

creating a mundane society where humans are never encouraged to innovate or to ask questions.

Without such creative stimulation, humanity will be threatened by inaction. Thus, the stark

reality of AI is dangerous to all people.

Artificial intelligence has unfavorable influences on not only the creative sphere, but on

the job market as well, for AI will bring widespread unemployment to much of the worlds

workforce. A 2013 study from Oxford University indicates that in the next two decades, 47% of

the worlds jobs will be taken by robots (Overly, 2). Conspicuously, the fact that nearly one half

of the population will be displaced by the disruptions of AI is very poignant. Such immense

cutbacks will decrease global income by $70 trillion each year (Mahoney, 1). Unemployment

induced by artificial intelligence is very impactful on the lives of individuals, and on society as a

whole, as all parties suffer from diminished wages. As companies turn to automation,

uneducated workers will be vulnerable to layoffs and financial instability. With exchanges such

as call center employees for digital voice systems, the most susceptible population of workers

will be unable to make purchases and support the economy (Liberatore, 3). Therefore, the topic

of unemployment contributes to the aforementioned issue of recession in the automated world of

AI. Artificial intelligence and its accompanying job replacement will have a tremendous impact

on humanity, as the elimination of jobs harms families and their global economy.
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Unemployment associated with artificial intelligence hurts not only the economy, but also

the lifestyle and wellbeing of humans. Ones profession is a crucial aspect of identity and

purpose. The daily routine of an occupation consumes many hours of each day, and keeps

individuals engaged in life. Thus, the concept of work is essential to human life, despite negative

notions and connotations surrounding the subject (OBrien, 2). It is difficult to attain the

satisfaction and pleasure that a job provides for those who are unemployed or live a leisurely

lifestyle. A lack of purpose hinders societal progress, therefore, threatening the global

community and its many human citizens. Although unseemly, the wellbeing of humans depends

on a working lifestyle, and without the motivation of a job, people will be negatively affected.

Internationally, electronics and automation have gained increasing influence on the

worlds population. Technology touches nearly every aspect of human life, causing people to

become dependent on the products of Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many other influential

companies. In many situations, the innovations of artificial intelligence make life easier, and it

may seem that robots save money, making the idea of machinery sound appealing. However,

such is not the case; artificial intelligence is extremely costly. Thus, automation has a negative

impact on the global economy. The feasible replacement of workers with robots will lead to a

dangerous loss of creativity, as well as a startling increase in unemployment figures. While

robots are not taking over the world quite yet, all people should fear the day that technology

will surpass our human interaction, for the enticing concept of artificial intelligence poses

many threats to the wellbeing of humanity.