Tech leaders have proposed a pause in AI development for six months due to the risks it poses to humanity. (Image Credit: geralt/pixabay)
I’m sure you’ve all heard about this. It’s shocking in a way. Professionally speaking, all my colleagues are fairly worried about the future – as we get steamrolled by AI. Have you all noticed that too?
Tech leaders recently called for a pause in the training of AI systems for six months due to the threat it may pose to humanity. Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and DeepMind researchers signed the letter warning about any risks, claiming the AI system development race is out of control.
OpenAI recently introduced GPT-4, a powerful technology that can answer questions about objects in images, among other tasks. The letter asks for a temporary pause in development at that capacity, warning of risks associated with advanced AI systems. "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity," it says.
According to the letter, Advanced AIs must be developed with care. "Recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one - not even their creators - can understand, predict, or reliably control."
It also states that AI may distribute misinformation while replacing jobs with automation. Investment bank Goldman Sachs said that although AI could increase productivity, it may also lead to automating millions of jobs. Meanwhile, experts believe that predicting AI's effect on the labor market is difficult. The letter brings up an important question. "Should we develop non-human minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete [sic] and replace us?"
In addition, OpenAI issued a warning if AGI were carelessly developed. "A misaligned superintelligent AGI could cause grievous harm to the world; an autocratic regime with a decisive superintelligence lead could do that, too. Co-ordination among AGI efforts to slow down at critical junctures will likely be important,"
Musk served as the OpenAI cofounder and left that position a few years ago after disagreements with other board members. He also criticized the company's current direction in a tweet. Tesla uses AI technology for its autonomous driving functions.
AI labs are asked "to immediately pause for at least six months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4". It also suggests governments interfere and form a moratorium if delays cannot be enforced soon enough. "New and capable regulatory authorities dedicated to AI" would also be required. So far, the US, UK, and EU have put together proposals to regulate AI technology. But, the UK rejected any dedicated AI regulator.
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