Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s name has just been added to the list of tech figures warning about the dangers of AI.
The former Google chief told guests at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council summit that AI poses an “existential risk” that could “hurt or kill” many people.
Schmidt doesn’t have a concrete solution for AI regulation, and what’s more, he doesn’t think there will be a solution that actually works in the coming years, and that AI could eventually go crazy. before people figure out what needs to be done about it.
Schmidt has no direct influence on AI, however, he joins a growing number of well-known moguls making such claims.
Artificial intelligence gives rise to controversy
Current Google CEO Sundar Pichai has warned that society needs to adapt to AI, while OpenAI leader Sam Altman has expressed concern that authoritarians could abuse these algorithms.
We recall that in March, numerous industry leaders and researchers, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, signed an open letter asking companies to suspend experiments with artificial intelligence for six months. All the while, humanity should find the right regulations.
There are already several ethical issues. Some American schools, for example, are banning OpenAI’s ChatGPT due to concerns about inaccuracy, misinformation and access to sensitive data.
In the long term, critics say they are worried about the automation of jobs, which could put many people out of work.
That said, Schmidt’s comments are more of an extension of current warnings than a logical leap. It may be “fiction” today, as the former CEO says, but not necessarily for long.