Tech CEOs are locked in an artificial intelligence ‘arms race’ that risks wiping out humanity, top computer science researcher Stuart Russell warned recently, as he called for governments to step on the brakes.
A professor at the University of California, Berkely, Russell said the heads of the world’s biggest AI companies understand the dangers posed by super-intelligent systems that could one day overpower humans. He believes that it is up to world leaders to take collection action to save our species.
“For governments to allow private entities to essentially play Russian roulette with every human being on earth is, in my view, a total dereliction of duty,” the prominent voice on AI safety said.
The rapidly developing technology promises benefits such as drug discovery, but could also lead to job losses, and facilitate surveillance and online abuse, among other threats.
There is also the risk of “AI systems themselves taking control and human civilization being collateral damage in that process,” Russell said in an interview at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
“Each of the CEOs of the main AI companies, I believe, wants to disarm.” But cannot do so unilaterally as they would be fired by investors, he said.
He noted that even Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, has said on record that AI could lead to human extinction.
OpenAI and US startup Anthropic have seen public resignations of staff who have spoken out about their ethical concerns.
International gatherings such as the AI summit provide an opportunity for regulation, although its three previous editions have only resulted in voluntary agreements from tech companies.
“It really helps if each of the governments understand this issue. And so that’s why I’m here,” Russell said.
As much as AI has been rapidly developing, so have the warnings, although the latter has been drowned in the euphoria over the potential and possibilities of the benefits of artificial intelligence if it is used for good. However, it has to be said that the potential for evil and destruction is still there, and those who are behind the technology, along with those that have the power to regulate and control its development, have to be reminded to keep their eye on the ball, because we have to know when to stop if it starts to look like we are losing control.
Hopefully our governments and the tech CEOs know what that point is, and when they need to prioritize the fate of the human race over that of their shareholders, who may sometimes fail to see the big picture.*
