Why We Fear AI and What It Means for the Maritime Workforce
By Giampiero Soncini, member of the board at Oceanly
Rising Cyber Threats in Maritime
Recent weeks have seen a significant increase in cyber-attacks targeting various industries worldwide. According to the latest survey by the International Chamber of Shipping, cyber-attacks now rank among the top four risks confronting the maritime industry. This highlights that the maritime sector is entering a phase of heightened digital vulnerability.
Understanding the Fear of AI
As digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) become more prevalent, conversations about their impact on seafarers are both timely and often misunderstood. Throughout history, people have feared technologies that threaten to replace their work. For example:
- In the 18th century, the Luddites destroyed looms out of fear machines would end their craft.
- Similar concerns arose with the introduction of cars and computers.
- Now, AI faces comparable anxiety as it advances.
Fear often stems from lack of understanding and the threat AI poses to livelihoods. Media amplifies this by focusing on worst-case scenarios to capture attention. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman noted,
“Our first response to change is emotional, not rational.”
Reality Versus Predictions
Even leaders in the tech world can fuel fears. One tech CEO predicted recently:
“AI will write 90% of all code within six months.”
Yet, seven months later, programmers continue to be in strong demand.
Author’s Summary
The fear of AI reveals more about human emotions and resistance to change than about the technology itself, especially in the digitally evolving maritime sector.