Elon Musk’s Views on the Possibility of Digital Superintelligence Taking Over China
Billionaire Elon Musk has recently conveyed his conviction that China is aligned with the global community in terms of artificial intelligence (AI). Musk expressed that China is willing to cooperate with the international community in order to establish shared principles for this revolutionary technology, which he considers a potential risk to civilization.
Musk also emphasized the threat posed by artificial intelligence to China. Tesla’s CEO says he told Chinese leadership that if they create some sort of digital super-intelligence, it could well take over the Communist Party itself, and through this powerful platform, even China itself. “No government wants to be left behind by a digital super-intelligence,” Musk said. He added that this point really hit home and the Chinese authorities took notice.
Musk made the remarks during a Twitter Spaces call on Wednesday, where he discussed his experiences interacting with China’s top leadership during a visit in May. During these meetings, he participated in discussions about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and its ability to wield power.
Reflecting on their discussions, Musk asserted, “I think this will resonate with them. No government wants to be overtaken by a digital super-intelligence.”
The launch of xAI and Musk’s quest to understand AI
The Twitter Spaces call focused on “the future of AI,” coinciding with the announcement of Musk’s latest venture, xAI. It’s an ambitious endeavor that aims to compete with OpenAI and other tech companies while exploring the deep nature of the universe.
Musk explained his motivation by stating, “I believe that the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of the universe will ultimately benefit humanity, because humanity itself is far more fascinating than its absence.”
The call featured notable participants, including Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Mike Gallagher, and served as a forum for discussion on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
Musk has often expressed concern about the potential dangers of AI acquiring superintelligent capabilities beyond human control. His fears have intensified since the introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
During the call, Musk admitted that if he could stop the development of artificial intelligence, he would consider doing so. However, he understood the impracticality of such a scenario.
China’s interest in collaborative AI regulation
Musk’s visit to China was widely acclaimed as he had the opportunity to meet with high-ranking government officials and influential business leaders. The discussions focused on different topics, and artificial intelligence was a prominent topic of discussion.
Based on their interaction, Musk noted that China appeared to be interested in working together to create a “cooperative international framework” to regulate artificial intelligence. However, he also admitted to some skepticism and mistrust of the United States.
Congressman Gallagher was skeptical of China’s willingness to control the pace of development of its AI capabilities, raising concerns about the potential for techno-totalitarian rule.
Elon Musk’s remarks highlight his belief in the importance of international cooperation to manage the complexities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. His optimism about China’s role as part of “Team Humanity” reveals his hopes for a joint effort to shape AI in a way that aligns with the interests and well-being of all humanity.
