Artificial intelligence will not destroy the world and, in fact, may save it, says Marc Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
His comments come as regulators in the US, the UK, the EU, and elsewhere are striving to find a common ground for adopting and regulating this technology.
The warning
Matt Clifford, an advisor to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on AI, has recently warned that artificial intelligence will be advanced enough to kill many humans within two years.
“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.
However, Andreessen has given a counterargument, saying that “the era of AI is already here, and boy are people freaking out.”
“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.
‘AI can improve everything we care about’
Andreessen has also emphasized the immense potential of AI to enhance various aspects of human life.
AI offers the opportunity to significantly augment human intelligence, revolutionizing fields such as education, personal assistance, science, art, leadership, and productivity, argues Andreessen.
He envisions a future where AI tutors and assistants accompany individuals throughout their development, empowering them to “maximize their potential.”
Additionally, Andreessen views the development and extensive adoption of AI as a moral obligation capable of ushering in a better world.
As he aptly states, “The opportunities are profound. AI is quite possibly the most important… thing our civilization has ever created, certainly on par with electricity and microchips, and probably beyond those.”
Also Read: US Firms Scramble to Hire Generative AI Talent, Job Listings Soar
Children will have their own AI tutors
The billionaire venture capitalist predicts that teaching and learning will be entirely different with AI. Children’s education in particular will witness an entirely different scenario in the near future.
“Every child will have an A.I. tutor that is infinitely patient, infinitely compassionate, infinitely knowledgeable, infinitely helpful,” argued Andreessen.
The machine, according to Andreessen, would demonstrate its affection by providing assistance to children, acting as an AI tutor.
“The A.I. tutor will be by each child’s side every step of their development, helping them maximize their potential with the machine version of infinite love,” predicts Andreessen.
‘People should stop ‘freaking out’’
The billionaire wants people to stop “freaking out” about the possibility of being killed by AI.
He expressed disparagement for the “hysterical fear and paranoia” surrounding AI technology, comparing it to 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.
In a famous 2011 essay titled “Why software is eating the world,” Andreessen presciently described how software companies would take over a large portion of the economy.
Building on his past predictions, he now foresees another major shift with AI. Andreessen believes AI has the potential to safeguard us from pressing challenges like the climate crisis, while also opening doors for breakthrough medicines and advancements in space exploration.
and then