The chief executive of a leading artificial intelligence firm is warning of potential dangers to businesses, politics and society by the unchecked use — or misuse — of AI.
“Humanity is about to be handed almost unimaginable power, and it is deeply unclear whether our social, political, and technological systems possess the maturity to wield it,” Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says in a 38-page essay published Monday.
Mr. Amodei’s company’s AI system is used for global business and powers the AI chatbot Claude.
In his essay “The Adolescence of Technology: Confronting and Overcoming the Risks of Powerful AI,” Mr. Amodei expresses concerns that wide and unregulated use of artificial intelligence could lead to the development of bioterrorism weapons, the rise of autocracy and the continuance of wealth disparities.
He notes the good that AI can and has produced, but cautions that the speed at which the technology is developing may exceed humans’ ability to incorporate it into society with minimum danger and disruption.
“This is the trap: AI is so powerful, such a glittering prize, that it is very difficult for human civilization to impose any restraints on it at all,” Mr. Amodei writes.
Advocating for more scrutiny and regulation of artificial intelligence, the CEO wraps up his essay with a message of hope.
“I believe if we act decisively and carefully, the risks can be overcome – I would even say our odds are good. And there’s a hugely better world on the other side of it,” Mr. Amodei writes. “But we need to understand that this is a serious civilizational challenge.”
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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