- June 2, 2023
- Posted by: [email protected]
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Several renowned figures in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), including the CEOs of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, have added their signatures to an open statement released by the Center for AI Safety (CAIS). The statement, consisting of a single sentence, emphasizes the need to prioritize mitigating the risk of AI-induced extinction on a global scale, placing it alongside other significant risks such as pandemics and nuclear war. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “Godfather” of AI, Stuart Russell from the University of California, Berkeley, and Lex Fridman from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among the renowned signatories. Other significant figures included in the declaration include the musician Grimes.
While the statement may appear innocuous at first glance, its underlying message has stirred controversy within the AI community. A growing number of experts believe that current AI technologies either already possess or will inevitably lead to the emergence of an AI system capable of posing an existential threat to humanity. There are, however, a number of professionals who hold opposite opinions. Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, has consistently stated his pessimism about AI becoming unmanageable.
For those who disagree with the notion of AI-induced extinction, including Andrew Ng, co-founder of Google Brain, and former chief scientist at Baidu, AI is not the problem but rather the solution. On the other hand, experts like Hinton and Connor Leahy, CEO of Conjecture, argue that human-level AI is inevitable and immediate action is required.
The specific actions sought by the signatories of the statement remain unclear. It is evident, however, that the intention is not to impede the development of potentially dangerous AI systems, as the CEOs and heads of AI from major companies, as well as esteemed scientists from various academic institutions, have all endorsed the statement.
Notably, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and one of the signatories, recently appeared before Congress during a Senate hearing on AI regulation. His testimony garnered attention as he advocated for legislative oversight of the industry. Altman’s Worldcoin project, which combines cryptocurrency and proof-of-personhood, has also made headlines after securing $115 million in Series C funding, bringing its total funding to $240 million across three funding rounds.
