What Will AI Actually Do?

On the heels of the Trump inauguration the AI confidence men have shown up to make America great again. By combining forces they have created "Stargate", a company that will keep the godless commies of China trailing the USA in AI and prevent their making slaves of the Yankees. 

Additionally, AI development will make every aspect of American life better and employ thousands of people in well-paid, meaningful jobs. The infrastructure, however, must be in place for this utopia to arrive. That will require money, more money than the operating businesses can round up. The government can take care of it.

The pro-AI profiteers have described the benefits of AI in only the most general terms. If AI is to be such a problem-solving benefit shouldn't it be really easy for them to point out some very specific problems or opportunities that AI will quickly tackle? In the military sphere, will AI be the director of defense research and procurement and then the planner of kinetic attacks and defense? Since AI only has access to material on the internet, which is the product of human intelligence, will it be able to produce genuine innovation or just a list of most likely options? Since billions are being spent on AI data centers wouldn't it be foolish to reject any AI suggestions or commands?

On a more mundane level will AI be used in the design and manufacture of consumer goods? Perhaps the billions of dollars spent on AI will yield more efficient washing machines, microwave ovens and blenders. For sure AI designed automobiles will end any arguments over the pluses or minuses of EV vs. ICE transport. Closing or building highways or bridges will be something that AI can do with no effective opposition. Building codes are a perfect area for AI use. Why haven't we heard more about the actual projects planned for AI? OK, they say that AI will be able to cure cancer.

Who will monitor the ethics of AI? No one knows what manner of control AI might recommend to address a perceived social problem. Will AI have a conscience? What if AI recommends or commands the extinction of some species of animals or even a given human population? How will the argument between the AI advocates and the post-modern Luddites be resolved? Sam Altman, Larry Ellison and Masayoshi Son and others should have ready answers to all these questions. What are they?