Artificial intelligence will be advanced enough to destroy humanity within two years, an advisor to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on AI has warned.
As AI continues to progress, there is a growing apprehension about its potential impact on humanity, with high safety concerns at the forefront.
The AI warning
Matt Clifford, who forms part of UK government’s AI taskforce, is warning that if mankind fails to control the technology, that it could pose a serious danger in the near future.
“You can have really very dangerous threats to humans that could kill many humans, not all humans, simply from where we’d expect models to be in two years’ time,” stated Clifford.
The development of generative AI has gained particular momentum, especially after the launch of the immensely popular ChatGPT. With no signs of slowing down, AI is generating intense market heat and capturing the keen interest of technology industry leaders. There is a potential dark side to the technology however, and this some industry experts worried.
“I think it’s certainly true that if we try and create artificial intelligence that is more intelligent than humans and we don’t know how to control it that’s going to create the potential for all sorts of risks now and in the future,” warned Clifford.
There are “lots of different scenarios to worry about” regarding the rapid growth of AI, and “it should be very high on policymakers’ agendas.”
Differing opinions
Not everyone involved in the field shares Clifford’s concerns. There are also counterarguments within the industry regarding the utilization of AI, focusing on its benefits rather than its potential for harm.
Marc Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, believes that AI will not destroy the world and, in fact, may save it.
“Fortunately, I am here to bring the good news: AI will not destroy the world and, in fact, may save it,” wrote Andreessen in an almost seven thousand-word essay.
The visionary tech billionaire has also emphasized the immense potential of AI to enhance various aspects of human life. He dismissed the “hysterical fear and paranoia” surrounding AI, labeling it a “moral panic.”
“AI is quite possibly the most important – and best – thing our civilization has ever created, certainly on par with electricity and microchips, and probably beyond those,” wrote Andreessen.
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Not a movie plot
Clifford is head of the UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Clifford believes that although AI doomsday scenarios may seem like the “plot of a movie” to some, this makes the threat no less real or significant.
“The risk of the framing of the existential risk is that it sort of sounds so sci-fi today to a lot of people. That sounds like a part of a movie, but the rising capabilities are very striking,” said Clifford.
EXCLUSIVE: The PM’s AI Task Force adviser Matt Clifford says the world may only have two years left to tame Artificial Intelligence before computers become too powerful for humans to control.
Watch the full interview on First Edition at 10pm.
— TalkTV (@TalkTV) June 5, 2023
The expert stressed the importance of understanding and addressing these concerns while discussing the potential risks associated with advanced technologies.
Clifford highlighted the need for a global approach to regulation, stating, “We have some sort of path to regulating them on a global scale. It is not enough to regulate them, I think, nationally.”
“The people who are building the most capable systems freely admit that they don’t understand exactly how they exhibit the behaviors that they do,” said Clifford.
When asked, Clifford said the scenario of rogue AIs was “absolutely” terrifying.
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