Elon Musk is one of the most high-tech, forward-thinking persons on the planet but, when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), he believes that we need to approach the technology with extreme caution. While addressing students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Musk said, “I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I were to guess like what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that.”
The chief executive of Tesla and chairman of SolarCity, last August tweeted, “We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.” Posting on Twitter once again, he said, “Hope we’re not just the biological boot loader for digital superintelligence. Unfortunately, that is increasingly probable.” As he states in the clip below, “With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon.”
As one who is working hard to develop self-driving cars with Tesla and to establish a colony on Mars through SolarCity, you might think that he would be for all forms of technological advancement, and he generally is, except where AI is concerned. Musk believes that Artificial Intelligence could be more threatening to humanity that nuclear weapons. Dr Stuart Armstrong, from the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, seems to agree, since he has warned that artificial intelligence could spur mass unemployment as machinery replaces manpower. He has also warned about the implications for uncontrolled mass surveillance if computers were taught to recognise human faces.
With tech giants like Google, Boston Dynamics and Lockheed Martin working feverishly to advance robotics and push AI forward, Elon Musk might seem to be on the anti-tech side, but such is not the case. His companies are among the most advanced and high-tech in the world. He just believes that we as a race should proceed with extreme caution, where AI is concerned, so that we don’t end up creating Skynet.
Though I am one who loves technological advancement, I must agree with Mr. Musk. As we create, build and invent all of these wonderful technologies, we must be prudent and wise, keeping an eye on what effect these creations are having and will have upon us all.
Source: The Independent
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