A group of over 800 public figures, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists and former military leaders, signed a statement warning against the development of superintelligence. The statement proposes a ban on work leading to superintelligence until there is both scientific consensus and strong public buy-in.
The Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit organization that works on large-scale risks like AI, initiated this call for action. Its executive director, Anthony Aguirre, states that AI developments are happening too fast for the public to fully understand or prepare for their consequences.
Aguirre hopes to force a conversation among major tech companies, politicians, and the general public about the potential dangers of superintelligence. He believes there needs to be an international treaty on advanced AI, similar to treaties for other potentially hazardous technologies.
The statement is not directed at any specific organization or government but aims to raise awareness and spark discussion. Americans are almost evenly split over the impact of AI, with 44% believing it will improve their lives and 42% thinking it will make their futures worse.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/ai-superintelligence-ban-from-prince-harry-to-steve-bannon-unlikely-c-rcna238747