AI: Wonderful Future or New Frankenstein?
AI is here to stay; or is it?
AI offers incredible progress but threatens humanity with unpredictable risks; if AI is here to stay, we must regulate its powerful technology before it gets out of control.
AI has become part of our daily life everywhere, in a very short space of time. ChatGPT was started in February 2023. Now, it and other AI applications are used by millions of people every day. And AI is useful... there can be no doubt about that. To a certain point, it has replaced conventional searches on the internet because it provides complete answers. It is used in homes and businesses, in government, and by the military. It helps designers, teachers, students, economists, and even doctors.
But can it last? Will it last? Or even, should it last? Is it the magic key guiding us to a wonderful future? Or could it be taking us unable to see into the unknown?The Promise of AI
The people driving the AI revolution say that it will lead the human race to a bright future, where there are answers to every question and solutions to every problem. AI is driving huge, very big progress in medical research and in military technology. But some people are worried about the risks. They argue that we must not trust this technology blindly, even if it brings great benefits.
The Limits of Technology
The problem with AI is that it is artificial, not human. It is built using human knowledge, but it does not have the natural natural reactions that humans have. Just like humans, AI can, and does, make mistakes. The popular AI platforms accept this, and most of them carry a notice that says: "Please note that AI can make mistakes."
AI has a tendency to amplify problems and increase enthusiasm. AI chatbots and the AI algorithms used by social media are blamed for creating problems of addiction in young people. Too often, they tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear – and the two may be very different. Because of this, developers ought to design these systems more responsibly to protect young minds.
A Modern Frankenstein?
But these examples are small problems compared to the big risk that some experts are warning about: AI may get out of control.
Two hundred years ago, a young lady called Mary Shelley wrote a book that has become a well-known of English literature: Frankenstein. In the story, a young scientist called Victor Frankenstein created an artificial human, known as "the living being." We could call him AH. At first, AH is really useful, but finally, he becomes more powerful than the man who had created him. AH kills Victor's young lady just married , and then his father. In the end, Victor dies while trying to stop his AH from doing any more damage.
Many experts warn that the same may happen with AI. At first, AI learned from human knowledge; but already, it is having to learn from made by AI knowledge. If the knowledge is correct, there is no problem. But when AI begins to learn from bad data, the new data it creates will be even worse. The consequences could be unimaginable, and AI models might completely break down. Experts call this "model collapse."
Facing the Future
Therefore, we have to ask ourselves this very important question: how can we avoid Victor Frankenstein’s mistake? Many experts say that governments and scientists should work together immediately to create strict global rules. We must control the development of AI before it becomes too powerful to control. In the end, AI does not have to become a monster, and we ought to remember that the creator is always responsible for the creation.
threaten: be a danger for - unpredictable: unimaginable launched: started - traditional: conventional - open sesame: magic key - blindfolded: unable to see - massive: huge - artificial: man-made - reflexes: natural reactions - amplify: increase - dependency: addiction - minor: small - classic: well-known - creature: living being - eventually: finally - AI-generated: AI-made - collapse: break down - critical: very important, crucial - manage: control
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Student Worksheet
AI: here to stay?
Interactive - use on screen or on paper:1. Complete this extract from the original text, choosing the correct word from the three options suggested in each case.
Therefore, we ourselves this critical question: how we Victor Frankenstein’s mistake? Many experts say governments and scientists work immediately to create strict global rules. We control the development of AI it becomes too powerful to manage. In the end, AI does not become a monster, and we remember that the creator is responsible for the creation.
Grammar exercise: the functions of -ING
Complete this exercise by identifying the exact grammatical category for each -ing word used in the text, using the standard Linguapress definitions.
2. Is it the magic key guiding us to a wonderful future?
3. The people driving the AI revolution say that it will lead the human race...
4. AI is driving massive progress in medical research.
5. AI chatbots and algorithms are blamed for creating problems of dependency in young people.
For
teachers:
Language points:
Grammar - Modal verbsThis article illustrates the full range of key English modal verbs in a natural, argumentative context, using modals to express probability, advice, necessity, and prohibition. Here is a breakdown of how they function in the text:
1. Ability & Certainty vs. Possibility
Can & Could: The text uses can for a proven, general ability ("AI can, and does, make mistakes"). It shifts to could to express a theoretical or hypothetical future risk ("could it be taking us..." / "...consequences could be unimaginable").
May & Might: These are used to show real future possibilities where the outcome is uncertain (may) or hypothetical (might) ("AI may get out of control" / "the same may happen" / "models might completely collapse").
Will: Expresses strong prediction or future certainty from the perspective of tech drivers ("it will lead the human race..." / "data it creates will be even worse").
2. Obligation, Necessity & Prohibition
Must / Must not: Used for an urgent, absolute necessity or an outright prohibition ("we must control..." / "we must not trust...").
Have to / Has to: Functions similarly to must, but often highlights external necessity or logical requirements ("we have to ask ourselves..." / "it is having to learn...").
Does not have to: Crucially shows the absence of obligation/necessity ("AI does not have to become a monster"), meaning a bad outcome is optional, not guaranteed.
3. Advice & Moral Duty
Should & Ought to: These two modals are used interchangeably in the text to offer strong recommendations or point out moral duties ("developers ought to design..." / "governments should work together"). They suggest the best course of action without being as aggressive as must.
4. Direct Questioning
Should is also effectively used in the introduction to challenge the ethics of the situation ("Or even, should it last?"), forcing the reader to think about permission and wisdom rather than just technological capability.
(See Descriptive Grammar of English §1.15.2.)
Oral warm up exercise...
Before taking the article in class, ask your students a few questions about AI. What is it? Is it good? Do they use it themselves? If so how? etc. This could lead to some lively discussion.Written exercise: writing an abstract.
Ask students to write an abstract (résumé, précis) of this 600 word article in about a quarter of its length. This is something to be done on paper, in the classroom. Otherwise, all switched-on students will simply ask AI to do the job for them.... which is one of its popular uses among the student population!
Interactive gap-fill exercise above.
This exercise can be taken in many different ways. One good way, if your classroom is suitably equipped, is to project the exercise onto the whiteboard and ask students to write down the answers in order on a sheet of paper. Then, one by one, click on the options so that pupils can correct or change their answers. Finally explain the right answers which are in the original text.
This exercise is best done if you make sure that students can no longer see the original text.
Some teachers however may simply ask pupils to refer back to the original text to find the right answers.
The different gaps to fill cover a variety of aspects of English. As well as modal verbs, they cover vocabulary and structures.
Going further – For some general tips on the nature of technical language, and discover more graded Englih texts on technical topics, see Technical English
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