Google CEO Sundar Pichai voiced his fears about AI technology in a recent interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, acknowledging that the potential risks of AI keep him up at night.
Pichai believes that AI technology can be “very harmful” if deployed wrongly and that its rapid development may result in safety concerns being overlooked.
The Need for a Regulatory Framework
Pichai expressed action for a global regulatory framework for AI akin to the treaties regulating nuclear arms use.
His concerns echo those of thousands of AI experts, researchers, and backers who signed a letter last month, including Twitter owner Elon Musk, demanding a six-month pause in creating “giant” AIs due to concerns that the technology’s development could spiral out of control.
One of the dangers of AI, as Pichai pointed out, is its ability to produce disinformation.
With AI, it’s possible to create realistic videos of people saying things they never actually said, which could cause significant harm on a societal scale.
AI’s Economic Impact: Profound and Far-reaching
Pichai emphasised the significant economic impact of AI, stating that it would affect every product across every company, making it a profound technology.
He cited the example of radiologists working with AI assistants in the next five to ten years. Adding that “knowledge workers” such as writers, accountants, architects, and software engineers would also be affected.
Elon Musk, however, cautioned that AI could result in “civilisation destruction” in a recent interview with Fox News Tucker Carlson.
Musk has become increasingly vocal about the risks associated with artificial intelligence and has signed an open letter urging a halt to its development.
Musk advocates for government regulation in AI, stating that a regulatory agency should start by seeking insight into AI and soliciting opinions from the industry before proposing rule-making.
Musk’s AI Ventures: A Double-edged Sword
Despite his concerns, Musk remains deeply involved in AI through his various companies, including Tesla and a rumoured new venture.
While acknowledging his previous involvement with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, Musk now expresses his desire to create a rival AI called TruthGPT – a “maximum truth-seeking AI” focused on understanding the universe.
As AI technology advances, the concerns and opinions of tech leaders like Pichai and Musk serve as a vital reminder of the potential dangers and the need for a globally coordinated regulatory approach.
