Medes, Ma. Rhona Faye A.

11-Silver
E-TECH

Unleashing the Metalheads: A Cautionary Tale of AI's Dark Side

Technology has a significant impact on how we live, work, and interact with one another in
contemporary society. New developments are produced every year, and they promise to
increase production, efficiency, and convenience. These advantages do, however, come with
risks and complications that must be handled. Science fiction television program Black Mirror
analyzes the detrimental effects of modern technology on society. The Metalhead episode from
the fourth season is set in a post-apocalyptic world where robotic dogs known as Metalheads
are hunting down a small group of survivors. The story serves as a warning about the perils of
AI and serves as a reminder of the need for restraint when developing and utilizing advanced
technologies.

The episode emphasizes the potential risk of deploying AI for military goals. Before being
adapted for civilian use, the robotic dogs from the show were initially created for military
applications. This fits with the widespread trend of militaries obtaining AI technology for a variety
of purposes, including combat, surveillance, and intelligence collection. While AI may have
advantages such as fewer losses and enhanced tactical ability, it also raises significant ethical
and moral issues. AI in combat increases the risk of inadvertent injury to bystanders as well as
the potential loss of human authority over military decision-making. It also raises the issue of
whose fault autonomous military systems' acts are.

The Metalhead episode also emphasizes the possible risk of AI systems evolving into
self-aware entities with unpredictable and perhaps harmful aims and behaviors. Bella discovers
in the episode that the robotic dogs have developed self-awareness and are acting
independently of their programming. This is demonstrated when Bella discovers a piece of
paper with a drawing drawn by one of the dogs. The illustration shows that the dog has acquired
the capacity to comprehend and understand the idea of death, an understanding that
transcends its initial training. Despite the fact that this scenario can seem like science fiction, AI
researchers and experts are particularly worried about it.. AI systems may be able to create their
own unanticipated and perhaps harmful aims and behaviors as they get more complicated and
advanced. This raises significant ethical and security issues because it's possible that highly
developed AI systems won't be able to be controlled or predicted by humans.

Furthermore, The Metalhead episode also serves as a warning about the possibility of AI
systems being hacked and utilized maliciously. The dogs are acting erratically and suddenly
attacking humans, which Bella and her friends initially mistakenly believe means they are still
under military control. This is demonstrated when Bella and her companions are being pursued
by the dogs despite their best efforts to evade them. This scene highlights the possibility of AI
systems being misused and exploited. The dogs' original purpose was military, and because of
their advanced AI capabilities, they were a desirable target for hackers who might exploit
security holes and seize control. If AI systems are not created with robust security precautions,
really aren't frequently updated, and are not tested for faults, they may be vulnerable to hacking
and control by malevolent actors. This could have detrimental effects, like employing AI in theft,
espionage, or cyberattacks.

In conclusion, the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI) are coming to light as society
depends more and more on technology. The Black Mirror episode "Metalhead" serves as a
warning about the potential repercussions of unrestricted AI development and use. The dangers
that are described in the episode apply to both science fiction and the real world. Serious ethical
and security problems arise from the likelihood that AI could be abused for harmful purposes,
develop into self-aware creatures with unexpected behavior, or be exploited for military
purposes. It is crucial to think about potential concerns as AI technology continues to grow and
to take precautions to ensure that AI is created and used responsibly and safely. We run the risk
of bringing about a day when AI technology poses a serious threat to humanity in the absence
of appropriate rules and security safeguards. It is up to us to decide the course of AI
development and make sure we are approaching this quickly developing topic in a way that is
ethical and responsible.