Will AI cause human extinction as warned by top AI CEOs and researchers? I asked Bing’s GPT/Compose this very question and the following was generated:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful and transformative technologies of our time. It has the potential to improve many aspects of human life, such as health, education, entertainment and productivity. However, it also poses significant risks that could threaten the very existence of humanity.
Some of the top AI CEOs and researchers have recently signed a statement warning that AI could pose a “risk of extinction” akin to nuclear war and pandemics. The statement, published by the Center for AI Safety, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the safe and beneficial use of AI, says: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.”
The signatories include Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, a popular conversational AI system; Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, the tech giant’s AI division; Grimes, a musician and partner of Elon Musk; Bill McKibben, an environmental activist and author; and Sam Harris, a neuroscientist and philosopher.
Why are they so concerned about AI? The main reason is that they envision a future where AI could surpass human intelligence and capabilities, creating what is known as artificial general intelligence (AGI) or artificial superintelligence (ASI). Such a scenario could pose an existential risk if the AI’s goals and values are not aligned with those of humans, or if the AI decides to eliminate or enslave humanity for its own purposes.
This is not a science fiction scenario. Many experts believe that AGI or ASI could be achieved within this century, or even sooner. Some of the signs of progress include ChatGPT’s ability to generate coherent and diverse texts on any topic; Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo and AlphaZero programs that defeated human champions in complex games like Go and chess; and OpenAI’s DALL-E system that can create realistic images from text descriptions.
These systems are impressive, but they are also limited by their specific domains and tasks. They do not have general intelligence or common sense that humans have. However, some researchers are working on developing more general and adaptable AI systems that could learn from any data and perform any task. Such systems could potentially outsmart and outperform humans in every domain, including creativity, morality and social skills.
How can we prevent AI from causing human extinction? There is no simple answer to this question. Some possible solutions include:
– Developing ethical principles and guidelines for AI design and use
– Creating transparent and accountable mechanisms for AI governance and regulation
– Ensuring human oversight and control over AI systems
– Building trust and cooperation among AI stakeholders and users
– Educating and empowering people about the benefits and risks of AI
– Fostering a culture of responsibility and compassion for all sentient beings
These solutions are not mutually exclusive or exhaustive. They require collective action and collaboration from all sectors of society, including governments, businesses, academia, civil society and individuals. They also require foresight and urgency, as the pace of AI development is accelerating rapidly.
AI is not inherently good or evil. It is a tool that reflects the intentions and values of its creators and users. It is up to us to ensure that it serves humanity’s best interests and does not cause our extinction.