Elon Musk recently discussed the potential risks of artificial intelligence during his participation in the “Great AI Debate” at the Abundance summit that took place four days ago earlier this month. He pointed out that the likelihood of AI posing risks to humans is slim, estimating it to be around 10 to 20 percent.
Musk still believes that the benefits that AI can offer are worth taking the daring and risk, as reported by Business Insider. The billionaire entrepreneur did not delve into the methods he used to assess the levels of risks that could arise.
He stated, “I think there is a possibility that could lead to the extinction of humanity, and I am inclined to agree with Jeff Hinton that this probability is around ten to twenty percent approximately, and I believe that the positive scenario that could occur outweighs the negative impact.”
Musk has expressed his concerns about artificial intelligence for some time, announcing in the last November the possibility that artificial intelligence could evolve into a form that could be harmful. Despite his belief in the necessity of setting regulations to govern artificial intelligence, he has founded a new company named xAI with the aim of improving artificial intelligence and positioning it as a competitor to OpenAI, a project he had a hand in establishing.
During the summit, Musk expressed his expectations that artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence by 2030. Despite his optimism about the positive benefits that AI may bring, he emphasized the importance of caution and vigilance towards the potential risks associated with it. Musk likened the process of developing advanced artificial intelligence to raising a child with exceptional intelligence, emphasizing the need to ensure that this intelligence receives proper education and encouraging it to be constantly honest and curious.
Musk stated at a Silicon Valley event in March, saying, “You are developing a kind of comprehensive artificial intelligence, and to a large extent, it is like raising a child, but it is a child with exceptional intelligence, like a very gifted child – and the importance lies in the education the child receives,” referring to the issue of general artificial intelligence. He added, “One of the elements that I consider very necessary for the safety of artificial intelligence is that this intelligence should do its utmost to uncover the truth and be curious.”
The strategy Musk adopts to ensure the safety of artificial intelligence is simple: ensuring the honesty of artificial intelligence at all times. He warned of the danger of teaching it to lie, as starting with this behavior may lead to difficulties in controlling it later on. He also mentioned a study indicating that if artificial intelligence starts to lie, the usual methods we follow to ensure safety may not be effective.
Musk’s message is clear: we are called to honesty in dealing with artificial intelligence to preserve it and our safety, and he believes that it is necessary to remind ourselves that honesty is the best strategy when dealing with artificial intelligence.