Employees at Google and OpenAI are cautioning against the threats that artificial intelligence could pose.
Former and current employees at the companies OpenAI and DeepMind, which is owned by Google, have warned about serious repercussions that may arise from advancements in artificial intelligence technology. They stress the need to enhance protection for whistleblowers of potential violations through a joint directed message to the management of both companies and regulatory bodies.
The message was signed by 13 employees from OpenAI and DeepMind, both leading companies in artificial intelligence research.
In the message, the employees expressed their concerns about a range of risks associated with the development of artificial intelligence, such as reinforcing social and economic disparities, the spread of misinformation, and the loss of control over independent AI systems that could lead to catastrophic consequences like human extinction, according to the message.
The message criticized companies operating in the field of artificial intelligence, pointing out that strong financial motives are driving them to push forward with development processes without disclosing information related to their protection measures and the levels of risk associated with those operations.
The message stated: “We believe that relying on companies for self-initiative in sharing this information is ineffective.”
The employees warned about strict and confidential agreements imposed on employees by companies, which hinder their ability to express their concerns. They emphasized the role of current and former employees in uncovering these risks in the absence of effective governmental oversight over these institutions.
The message demands that artificial intelligence companies provide effective protection for whistleblowers reporting risks in developing AI technology, and refrain from enforcing agreements that prevent constructive criticism, in addition to providing reliable mechanisms for reporting concerns to management and regulatory bodies while maintaining trade secrecy.
The employees also urged companies not to take retaliatory actions against employees disclosing confidential information about the risks associated with AI development after all other avenues have failed.
