Elon Musk and Rishi Sunak Discuss Potential Dangers of Artificial Intelligence, Labeling it a “Revolutionary Force”
According to CNN, Tesla CEO Elon Musk participated in a conversation with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the AI Safety Summit. Musk stated that artificial intelligence is one of the most revolutionary forces ever witnessed.
“Artificial intelligence is likely to be a force for good,” Musk said. “But the probability of it going bad is not zero percent.”
Sunak and Musk spoke in an interview-style chat on stage at Lancaster House, a government seat in central London often used for diplomatic purposes, before opening up to questions from reporters.
The conversation was then posted for live streaming on Musk’s personal account on the social media site he owns, formerly known as Twitter.
Musk was present throughout the two-day event along with US Vice President Kamala Harris, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other prominent politicians and global technology leaders. Chinese authorities were also present at the event.
“I’m happy to see at this point that people are taking AI seriously,” Musk told Sunak on Thursday.
“Thank you for this summit. I think it will go down in history as quite important,” CNN quoted him as saying.
Musk also opened up about several AI predictions, including a future where jobs are not needed and AI partnership would be one of the highest forms of friendship.
Meanwhile, on the first day of his AI event, more than 25 countries and the European Union signed the Bletchley Declaration, agreeing to work together to create a unified approach to oversight in efforts to deploy AI technology in a “human-centered, reliable and responsible manner, highlighting the potential for “serious, even catastrophic harm” that many technology leaders have expressed concerns, CNN reported.
Sunak and Musk discussed how digital superintelligence could affect the public and demand regulation in the same way that the aerospace and automotive industries demand regulation.
“I agree with most of the rules,” Musk said. “The judge is a good thing”.
Musk also noted that if AI powers like the US and UK “are aligned with AI security, that’s a good thing.” He also suggested that other global powers, such as China, remain involved in the discussions, according to CNN.
Musk continued to reiterate his “rather utopian” belief that AI could create an “age of abundance” where “there will be no shortage of goods and services.”
He said AI could lead to a future where “work is not needed” and people generally enjoy high levels of income. She mentioned the world of AI tutors and the companionship they bring to people like her son, who has learning disabilities and struggles to make friends, CNN reported.
The next AI Security Summits are scheduled to be hosted in Korea and France and are scheduled for 2024.
