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The concerns about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) have grown louder. Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned computer scientist dubbed the “godfather of AI,” recently left his position at Google to draw attention to the potential “existential threat” posed by AI. Hinton, along with hundreds of others, signed an open letter by the Center for AI Safety warning about the possibility of advanced AI leading to the destruction of humanity. They emphasized the urgent need to prioritize mitigating the risks associated with AI.
These growing concerns have been sparked by the rapid development of AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and the ongoing race to create more powerful AI systems. The worry stems from the fear that the tech industry is pushing for the rapid advancement of AI without considering the potential consequences. At first glance, these warnings may appear alarming.
However, upon closer examination, the scenarios presented to illustrate how AI could potentially annihilate humans offer more questions than answers. It becomes challenging to find solid evidence supporting these fears. Many experts argue that focusing on long-term doomsday scenarios detracts from the immediate risks posed by existing AI technologies.
Those who discuss existential risks believe that we are heading towards the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which refers to machines surpassing human thinking abilities. They predict a future in which advanced AIs are entrusted with greater autonomy, possibly gaining control of critical infrastructure such as power grids, financial markets, or even taking the lead in warfare. In these scenarios, AI could potentially go rogue or actively resist our attempts to govern them.
However, whether AI will eventually achieve super-intelligence capable of such actions is still uncertain.
