Elon Musk anticipates a future without jobs as AI becomes all-encompassing
Rishi Sunak has revealed that leading technology companies, like Meta, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI, will permit government scrutiny of their AI tools for the first time. This decision comes as Elon Musk issued a caution that AI could potentially replace all human jobs.
Following a two-day summit at Bletchley Park, attended by an array of influential figures, including the world’s wealthiest individual, the US vice-president, and a high-ranking Chinese government representative, it was collectively acknowledged that AI poses a significant threat to humanity. As part of the initiative, these companies have consented to regulatory testing of their cutting-edge AI products before public release, with the aim of slowing down the development of systems that could rival human capabilities.
Addressing the media after the summit’s conclusion, Sunak remarked, “I am confident that the outcomes of this gathering will shift the scales in humanity’s favor.
The prime minister additionally revealed global endorsement for an expert committee modeled after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to be overseen by a prominent figure in modern AI.
Elon Musk, the technology magnate, later expressed his approval during a conversation with the prime minister in central London. In their discussion, Musk outlined his vision of a profoundly altered future for humanity.
He remarked, “We are witnessing the most revolutionary power in history. A time will come when no employment is essential. If you wish to have a job, you can, but AI will have the capacity to perform all tasks.
Musk expressed his belief that the summit had brought about a substantial shift in the advancement of advanced AI. He noted, “Just having insight and the ability to raise concerns with the public will wield significant influence.”
During his remarks at the summit’s conclusion, Sunak stated that agreements with various countries and AI companies had effectively reduced the technology’s threat. Nevertheless, he faced criticism for the voluntary nature of the testing agreement, as the government refrained from introducing legislation to regulate AI development.
Sunak explained that the rapid pace of technological progress required governments to keep up, necessitating “binding requirements” for AI companies in the long run.
According to the agreement unveiled at Bletchley Park, “like-minded” governments and AI companies have committed to collaborating on safety testing for new AI models, both before and after their release.
Large language models, which form the foundation of tools like the ChatGPT chatbot, will undergo testing in collaboration with governments to assess various risks, including those related to national security, safety, and societal well-being.
This decision follows the White House’s recent issuance of an executive order, compelling major tech companies to furnish their model test results to the US government before public release.
Rishi Sunak indicated that this testing effort will be spearheaded by newly established AI safety institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom. The British organization is positioning itself as a global focal point for this multinational initiative, which notably excludes China.
The testing agreement enjoys the support of the European Union and ten nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Germany. Leading AI companies participating in the testing initiative encompass Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.
Sunak further mentioned that UN Secretary-General António Guterres played a crucial role in rallying international community support for an expert panel tasked with producing a “state of AI science” report. This concept draws inspiration from the way the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established to reach a consensus on international scientific matters. With the backing of the UN Secretary-General, each country has committed to nominating experts for this purpose.
Yoshua Bengio, renowned as one of the key figures in modern AI, has been appointed as the chairman for producing the inaugural safety report. Bengio, a recipient of the ACM Turing Award, which is the computer science equivalent of the Nobel Prize, has been a prominent advocate of caution in the AI development discourse.
He played a leading role in a letter published in March, which called for a six-month pause in “massive” AI experiments. In May, he also supported a statement emphasizing that the risk of AI leading to extinction should be treated with the same urgency as mitigating societal risks from pandemics and nuclear warfare.
Sunak, in an earlier statement to the press on Thursday, drew parallels with the risks posed by nuclear warfare and pandemics. He acknowledged the ongoing debate surrounding AI risks and emphasized the importance of not being alarmist about the issue.
He stated, “There’s a debate on this matter. Even people within the industry hold differing opinions, and we can’t be entirely certain. But there is a case to be made that AI may pose a risk on a scale comparable to pandemics and nuclear warfare. As leaders, we have a duty to take action and implement measures to safeguard people, and that’s precisely what we are doing.
Worries regarding AI, which refers to computer systems capable of executing tasks typically attributed to intelligent beings, encompass issues like the potential for widespread misinformation during elections and the development of highly advanced systems that might elude control and pose a threat to humanity.
The prime minister’s statements marked the conclusion of a two-day international AI safety summit, characterized by vigorous diplomatic engagements.
British authorities were pleased to issue a statement at the outset of the summit, endorsed by 28 governments, including the UK, the US, EU, and China. Named the “Bletchley Declaration,” it pledged the signatory nations to collaborate on establishing shared safety standards, drawing parallels to the Cop summits addressing the climate crisis.
On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak’s efforts to position the UK as a global leader in shaping new AI regulations faced a minor setback when the US Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, announced the establishment of a new AI safety institute in Washington. British officials indicated their intent to closely cooperate with the new US institute and other similar organizations, forming a network for global testing. The multilateral testing agreement would serve as a foundational framework for this collaborative effort.
In a press conference concluding the summit, Sunak acknowledged concerns about the potential job displacement by AI but suggested that workers should perceive this technology as a “co-pilot.” He remarked, “I understand people’s anxieties about this. We should regard AI more as a supportive partner rather than something necessarily replacing someone’s job.
