Some funeral organizing companies in China are offering the possibility of virtual interaction with deceased individuals during their funerals, relying on artificial intelligence. These companies allow their clients to stay virtually connected with departed loved ones by creating virtual replicas of them using AI technology. One such company, "Somnium Space," based in London, employs Metaverse to create these virtual replicas, providing individuals with a continued presence in a virtual world after their passing, without human intervention. Thus, AI-based technologies are involved in various aspects of people's lives, from birth to post-death, encompassing fields such as education, transportation, agriculture, industry, media, and medicine.

However, in all these domains, any application or decision-making error can lead to serious consequences. Recently, we witnessed the case of a US Air Force drone, reliant on AI technologies, deciding to kill its operators to prevent interference with its mission. Regardless of whether this incident occurred in a real training scenario or a simulation, the outcome is not significantly different from the analysis conducted by researchers on several recent accidents (including the 2013 train crash in Spain, the 2009 Air France Flight 447, and Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in 2013). These incidents revealed that AI dominance and the control strategies employed by human supervisors were not similar.

Amidst these developments, there has been a growing chorus of warnings from experts and CEOs of major technology companies such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, cautioning against the potential extinction of humanity due to artificial intelligence. The Centre for AI Safety issued a warning statement, referencing Pixar's film "WALL-E" as an example of the dangers of AI. They argue that humans could become completely reliant on machines, similar to the scenario depicted in the film where humans are depicted as happy animals with no responsibilities, while robots handle all their needs. In light of this, scientists, including Dr. José Delgado, an experimental psychologist at the University of Granada, advocate for human control over the behaviors and outcomes of AI applications.

Does artificial intelligence surpass human intelligence? This is a central question that sparks significant debate. Some fear it, while others deny it. However, everyone agrees that the solution lies in the ethics of AI usage. UNESCO has taken the initiative to issue recommendations regarding the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence nearly two years ago. Additionally, more than 40 countries are collaborating with UNESCO to develop national-level regulations for artificial intelligence controls. The United Nations organization has called on all countries to join the movement towards building an "ethical artificial intelligence," stating that a report on the progress made in this regard will be presented at the UNESCO World Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Slovenia in December.

Is the world on the brink of constructing a new civilization that relies on machines, with artificial intelligence playing a major role, amid genuine concerns about the diminishing role of humans in shaping that civilization? Will we end up like the last monarchs of Al-Andalus? In just a few weeks, 530 years will have passed since the saying, "Cry like women for what you could not defend like men," attributed to Aisha, the mother of Prince Abu Abdullah Muhammad XII, the last king of Al-Andalus, who surrendered Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, ending seven centuries of Islamic rule that established a civilization still celebrated today. On August 7, 1493, King Abu Abdullah signed an agreement with the Castilian king, selling all his possessions in Al-Andalus and leaving, shedding tears and hearing his mother's famous saying.

I fear that people may repeat such a saying in less than a century when they find themselves marginalized in a civilization shaped by artificial intelligence technologies, being herded like sheep among the ruins of a cultural heritage they did not defend as humans.