AI Leaders and the Art of Misdirection

July 27, 2023

Note: This essay is the work of a real and still-alive dinobaby. No smart software involved, just a dumb humanoid.

Lately, leaders at tech companies seem to have slipped into a sci-fi movie.

“Trust me. AI is really good. I have been working to create a technology which will help the world. I want to make customers you, Senator, trust us. I and other AI executives want to save whales. We want the snail darter to thrive. We want the homeless to have suitable housing. AI will deliver this and more plus power and big bucks to us!” asserts the sincere AI wizard with a PhD and an MBA.

Rein in our algorithmic monster immediately before it takes over the world and destroys us all! But AI Snake Oil asks, “Is Avoiding Extinction from AI Really an Urgent Priority?” Or is it a red herring? Writers Seth Lazar, Jeremy Howard, and Arvind Narayanan consider:

“Start with the focus on risks from AI. This is an ambiguous phrase, but it implies an autonomous rogue agent. What about risks posed by people who negligently, recklessly, or maliciously use AI systems? Whatever harms we are concerned might be possible from a rogue AI will be far more likely at a much earlier stage as a result of a ‘rogue human’ with AI’s assistance. Indeed, focusing on this particular threat might exacerbate the more likely risks. The history of technology to date suggests that the greatest risks come not from technology itself, but from the people who control the technology using it to accumulate power and wealth. The AI industry leaders who have signed this statement are precisely the people best positioned to do just that. And in calling for regulations to address the risks of future rogue AI systems, they have proposed interventions that would further cement their power. We should be wary of Prometheans who want to both profit from bringing the people fire, and be trusted as the firefighters.”

Excellent point. But what, specifically, are the rich and powerful trying to distract us from here? Existing AI systems are already causing harm, and have been for some time. Without mitigation, this problem will only worsen. There are actions that can be taken, but who can focus on that when our very existence is (supposedly) at stake? Probably not our legislators.

Cynthia Murrell, July 27, 2023

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under AI, Business strategy, News

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.