Image: JIM WATSON (AFP)
The time should be used to create a set of rules for the technology, according to an open letter published on Wednesday by the organization Future of Life. “Powerful AI systems should only be developed when we are sure that their impact is positive and their risks manageable.”
In addition to Tesla boss Musk, more than 1,000 people signed this manifesto, including Emad Mostaque, head of the AI company Stability AI and several developers from Google’s AI subsidiary DeepMind. The authors of the letter pointed out the dangers of so-called generative AI such as ChatGPT. These programs can simulate human interaction and create text or images based on a few keywords.
Is everything going wrong?
However, this technology has now progressed so far that even the developers can no longer understand their programs or control them effectively. As a result, the information channels could be flooded with propaganda and untruths and self-fulfilling jobs could be rationalized away. For this reason, all developers working on next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) should cease their work in a publicly verifiable manner. If this does not happen immediately, the states would have to impose a moratorium.
Race of the Giants
Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, many large corporations, above all Microsoft and Google, have been racing for technological leadership in AI. New applications are presented almost every week, because companies expect bubbling profits from this technology. Some countries like China consider AI to be strategically important and want to give developers great freedom.
According to Future of Life, Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT developer OpenAI, did not sign the appeal. Although Elon Musk is one of the co-founders of this company, he has repeatedly expressed criticism of this topic and called for government regulation.
“The wording isn’t perfect, but the spirit is right: we need to slow down until we better understand the implications,” said Gary Marcus, a New York University professor emeritus and signer of the open letter. Generative AI can do serious damage. “The big players keep secretive about their activities, which makes it difficult for society to defend itself against possible dangers.”
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