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Facing AI extinction
Why do many of today’s artificial intelligence researchers
dismiss the potential risks to humanity, asks David Krueger
I
N A recent White House press Attitudes are changing, but
conference, press secretary not quickly enough. AI x-risk
Karine Jean-Pierre couldn’t is admittedly more speculative
suppress her laughter at the than important social issues
question: Is it “crazy” to worry that with present-day AI, like bias
“literally everyone on Earth will and misinformation, but the basic
die” due to artificial intelligence? solution is the same: regulation.
Unfortunately, the answer is no. A robust public discussion is long
While AI pioneers such as overdue. By refusing to engage,
Alan Turing cautioned that we some AI researchers are neglecting
should expect “machines to take ethical responsibilities and
control”, many contemporary betraying public trust.
researchers downplay this concern. Big tech sponsors AI ethics
In an era of unprecedented growth research when it doesn’t hurt the
in AI abilities, why aren’t more bottom line. But it is also lobbying
experts weighing in? to exclude general-purpose AI
Before the deep-learning from EU regulation. Concerned
revolution in 2012, I didn’t think researchers recently called for
human-level AI would emerge a pause on developing bigger AI
in my lifetime. I was familiar with models to allow society to catch
arguments that AI systems would up. Critics say this isn’t politically
insatiably seek power and resist realistic, but problems like AI
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