LONDON. Artificial intelligence (AI) has once again become the subject of concern as experts issue a new warning about its potential threat to humanity. Scientists and industry leaders, including executives from Microsoft and Google, are calling for global attention to mitigate the risk of extinction posed by AI, stating that it should be considered on par with other societal-scale risks like pandemics and nuclear war.
The statement, posted online and signed by hundreds of influential figures, such as Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned computer scientist, emphasizes the need for immediate action. The warning, intentionally brief to unite a wide range of scientists with varying opinions, was published on the website of the Center for AI Safety.
The fear surrounding AI’s ability to outsmart humans and operate autonomously has intensified in recent times, fueled in part by the emergence of highly capable AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Dan Hendrycks, the executive director of the Center for AI Safety based in San Francisco, explained that the concise statement aimed to bring forth concerned individuals who were previously discussing the issue privately among themselves.
This recent warning follows a letter signed by over 1,000 researchers and technologists, including Elon Musk, earlier this year. They called for a six-month pause in AI development, citing profound risks to society and humanity.
As countries worldwide grapple with regulating this advancing technology, the European Union is leading the way with its AI Act, anticipated to be approved later this year. The Act seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for AI development and usage, reflecting the growing recognition of the need to address potential risks associated with AI.
The call for action from experts highlights the urgency of proactively addressing the potential dangers of AI to safeguard humanity’s future. With increasing advancements in AI technology, the global community faces the critical task of balancing progress and innovation with responsible and ethical development.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
