距离2023年英语专四考试越来越近啦，大家准备的如何？今天为大家带来的是专四作文话题预测：AI的不可知性，同学们快来考前刷一刷积累表达。
【话题预测】
PART VI WRITING [45 MIN]
Read carefully the following excerpt and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 200 WORDS, in which you should:
summarize the main message of the excerpt, and then
comment on the unknowable future of AI.
You should support yourself with information from the excerpt.
Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization, and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.
Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” has enormous potential in almost all areas. This nascent technology is heralded by many as a new frontier with unlimited potential. However, AI is one technology that produces fearful reactions and even calls for a moratorium on research and development in this area. Should we fear the unknowable future of AI?
Legislators are examining possible legal guardrails for AI technology. Calls for immediate regulation are driven by the fear that AI will eventually cause harm—even though the specific harms have not always been clearly articulated.
Some suggest that future AI capabilities have been overstated and the fear is irrational. They first point out the many ways that AI is not even close to showing human-like levels of intellect, creativity, or sentience.
Yet for as many who say the threats from AI are minimal, there are others who fear developing AI any further. Most agree that the sci-fi notion of AI computers taking us over is not the real problem, but there are more ordinary, yet still dangerous, possibilities.
The positive potential for AI—from new drug discoveries to freeing up time spent on everyday tasks—offers enormous potential. Yet many people firmly believe that AI might eventually circumvent human control. That is scary, even as a possibility.
【参考范文】：
Artificial intelligence has been a widely discussed topic around the world. It is still hard to see what kind of future AI will lead us to. Some people believe that AI has enormous potential in many areas. However, there are concerns that AI may threaten human existence and development, recognizing the potential threats and risks that come with its development. From my perspective, AI’s evolution may pose a threat to human living and thriving, so we need to stay vigilant.
There are several reasons why AI may threaten human life and development. Firstly, the emergence of AI technology has the potential to replace many low-end jobs, resulting in widespread unemployment without any compensatory measures. While this technology has the capacity to create new job opportunities, it’s unlikely that it will fulfill the ever-increasing demand for employment. In addition, AI technology has become an aid for creating and spreading false and misleading information, which may create cognitive confusion and therefore disrupt social stability. Finally, the rapid development of AI technology will create some dreadfully high-end technologies that can have a devastating impact on humanity if not utilized properly.
In conclusion, AI’s rapid development may constitute potential threats. We need to strengthen research and regulation of AI technology, prevent it from being developed for inappropriate purposes, and actively develop AI ethics and safety issues. By doing so, we can promote the ultimately positive potential of AI while minimizing the risks it poses.
【谋篇布局】：
l首段：概括总结材料内容+提出自己的观点（人工智能会威胁人类生存和发展）
l第二段：给出人工智能会威胁人类生存和发展的原因
分论点1：人工智能会取代低端工作，导致大量失业
分论点2：人工智能会生成虚假和错误信息，混淆人类认知，扰乱社会秩序
分论点3：人工智能会被用于研发高端科技，而高端科技不当使用会给人类带来毁灭性打击
l结尾段：总结全文，呼吁对人工智能进行管控
【重点词汇及短语】：
living and thriving 生活与繁荣
与此类似的短语还有 survive and thrive生存与发展、grow and glow成长并闪耀、sharing and caring分享与关怀。
vigilant：/ˈvɪdʒɪlənt/ adj.警惕的，警觉的
在提醒他人要保持警惕时，可以用短语“warn sb. to be/remain/stay vigilant (against/of sth.)”，也可用其名词形式vigilance，如“sth. requires constant vigilance”，替代我们常说的cautious。在表示放松警惕时可以用“relax one’s vigilance”或“let down one’s guard”。
it’s unlikely that 不太可能
【同义替换】The chances are slim that/It’s highly doubtful that/There’s only a remote possibility that
aid：/eɪd/ n. 帮助，援助，救助
【同义替换】help/assist/support
if not utilized properly 如果使用不当
【同义替换】if not handled with caution/ if not controlled and regulated/ if misused or abused