Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, downplayed concerns about the existential risks of superintelligent AI during a recent interview at the New York Times’ Dealbook Summit. When asked if he has faith that governments will regulate AI to avoid its potential dangers, Altman replied that he believes researchers will figure out how to address these issues.
Altman pointed to his company’s use of “deep learning” technology as a solution to the complex problems posed by superintelligent AI. However, even experts in the field acknowledge that they do not fully understand the underlying workings of the technology.
Experts agree that resolving the “alignment problem,” which involves ensuring AI models don’t become world-destroying machines, is crucial. But Altman suggests that governments will rise to the challenge and work together globally to address these issues.
Critics argue that this approach is overly optimistic and naive, given the complexities of policymaking and global coordination. They point out that Silicon Valley executives like Altman are pushing for widespread adoption of AI despite its limitations.
Despite concerns about AI’s risks, Altman remains committed to the technology. He downplayed speculation about a dramatic fallout with co-founder Elon Musk, stating that he believes Musk will do the right thing and avoid using his influence to harm competitors.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/05/business/sam-altman-openai-nightcap/index.html