Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining the boundaries of what is possible. It has used cases in diverse sectors such as healthcare, finance, education, entertainment, etc., that can be transformed. It aids and augments human ability and optimizes particular processes for better efficiency and innovation in the 21st century. But with that rise come serious challenges and ethical dilemmas. If used improperly, AI could violate privacy, enact biases and discrimination, take jobs away, and even undermine security. The duality of AI — that which is exceedingly beneficial and that which is still potentially harmful — does require significant research so society can maneuver its complexities responsibly. Through this research, we intend to investigate how AI is being used and abused, its impact on society, and some guidelines for the ethical practice of its development and deployment. This study, by evaluating the promises and perils of AI, aims to contribute to the strike of a balanced and just technological future. The study was quantitative with an online survey of 10 uses of AI and 10 abuses of AI. The survey was sent to a diversified random sample of 50 Myanmar citizens, which can include ethnic Myanmar, Chinese, Indian, and others. Both males and females between 15 and 40 years, including high schoolers, college-goers, and postgraduate scholars, were all respondents. [Note: Data collection for this demographic group lasted 2-3 months, which further provided insight into the attitude of different sections of society.] The objective of this study is to research these insights in order to comprehensively understand the different ways AI affects various communities, to guide the advancement of ethical and effective AI policies. The results reveal a consensus among respondents, with over three-quarters of respondents recognizing that AI makes everyday tasks more efficient, improves decision-making capabilities, personalizes customer experiences, enhances quality of life, and cuts businesses’ operational costs. However, nearly 60% of those polled voiced concerns about the proper use of AI, pointing to risks such as potential privacy violations, loss of jobs, unemployment, replication of bias, and the generation of fake news. There was also wide support for tighter regulation to prevent the abuse of AI. This paper makes the case for the two-edged sword of AI: Its transformative power for our society and its systemic risks. It calls for a prudent stance in the advancement and application of AI, stressing the necessity of ethical reflections and effective regulatory mechanisms. Such measures are critical to ensure that the capabilities of AI are deployed in a responsible and ethical manner.