Artificial Intelligence is an all-time favorite around here, so I was definitely going to write about the open letter that is currently calling for a pause on advanced AI development. The Future of Life Institute is a non-profit research institute that works to minimize catastrophic and existential (human-extinction level) risks facing humanity, particularly from advanced artificial intelligence.
The organization that is barely a decade old, was formed in March 2014, and has Skype’s Co-founder Jaan Tallinn, as one of its founders. Its advisors include entrepreneur Elon Musk.
In recent publications by Business Insider, the Future of Life Institute issued an open letter to pause further advancements to AI systems like Open AI’s GPT-4, a letter that received signatures from technology leaders like Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla, Twitter and more), Steve Wozniak (Co-founder of Apple) and Evan Sharp (Co-founder of Pinterest). It highlights concerns about the possibility of losing control of powerful new AI systems and their intended effect on civilization.
The fear is that companies are racing to develop AI technology so advanced that not even the creators can fully understand, predict or reliably control, with arguments stating that such decisions must not be delegated to ‘unelected tech leaders’.
They are calling for six (6) months pause to allow time for policymakers to develop AI governance systems, including regulatory authorities and watermarking systems to help differentiate between AI and human generated content. The letter further warns against letting machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth and automating away most jobs, including fulfilling ones.
As AI continues to evolve, it is pertinent to adopt guidelines that won’t stifle innovation.
