Better Call Biden! Sunak and Biden to discuss the potential threat of AI’s ‘extinction risk’.
Artificial intelligence continues to be a hotly debated topic. In fact, not a week goes by when the threat of exponentially improving technology is discussed. Everymen and experts all seem to have an opinion, and they’re getting out of hand. The topic of AI and extinction has, inevitably, manifested and world leaders are on a mission to assuage such severe concerns for their citizens.
As reported by Politico, the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated that he wants to reassure the public that the government is looking very carefully at the matter, after AI leaders rallied in unison against a seemingly Second Renaissance-level threat. It’s a worldwide concern, but Sunak is starting the discourse with US President Joe Biden in Washington next week – America’s potent political union promises to (hopefully) establish a united front regarding the risks AI potentially poses and corresponding new legislation.
AI and extinction – Rishi’s business?
It’s in Rishi’s best interests to calm the debate over AI’s projected heel turn; just last week, he spoke of the importance of guaranteeing the correct “guard rails” were in place to protect us against tech threats, ranging from fake news to existential threats. Regulations regarding AI are being defined in real-time, and the Prime Minister’s bid to unite with the US to safeguard against the worst-case scenario seems like a prudent first step.
Whilst the Prime Minister providing an update on a digital dystopia is alarmist, Sunak’s stance follows the publishing of a call to arms from AI leaders comparing artificial intelligence’s extinction risk as comparable to pandemics and nuclear war.
“People will be concerned by the reports that AI poses an existential risk like pandemics or nuclear wars – I want them to be reassured that the government is looking very carefully at this,” the Prime Minister shared. Referring to his discussions with key figures at AI-backing organisations Anthropic, OpenAI and Google DeepMind, Sunak voiced his hopes that the UK specifically, “can play a leadership role because ultimately, we’re only going to grapple with this problem and solve it if we work together not just with the companies, but with countries around the world.”
A united front
This united front seems key to halting AI’s dizzying advance. Digital leaps often seem to jet far over borders; Sunak and Biden might not be the most well-equipped to discuss artificial intelligence’s intricacies, but the pair do currently hold the cards when it comes to the pressing matter of how we learn to live with a mercurial technology that shows no signs of slowing down or going away.
Source: Sunak and Biden to discuss AI after ‘extinction risk’ warning.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk.
What do you think? Are we really ramping up for the end of days, or is AI paranoia a natural part of its rise to prominence? Keep the conversation going in the comments.
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