Artificial Intelligence

Why Artificial Super-Intelligence Concerns Thought Leaders

A brief review of a unique article with key points

The purpose of this post is to discuss an interesting article related to artificial super-intelligence that I read on Technology Hits.

Here is the link: “Artificial Intelligence Does Not Concern Me, but Artificial Super-Intelligence Frightens Me: Perhaps it is time to move our heads from the desert sands and see the lurking reality in the dark side” by Dr Mehmet Yildiz.

Reading the article’s title surprised me as the author is intensely into artificial intelligence, evident from his several other posts about the topic. But when I read this particular story carefully and with an open mind, his points made sense.

Dr Yildiz articulated his concerns about artificial super-intelligence, an advanced and autonomous form of artificial intelligence covering multiple fields of science and technology.

There were a few takeaway points for me. I want to highlight them based on my understanding of major risks and critical issues regarding the emergence of artificial super-intelligence globally.

The cybersecurity example gives us valuable insights into what could go wrong when artificial super-intelligence.

The author pointed out that a reputable organisation’s well-designed and robust operating system was hacked despite all efforts and measures.

The cost and other commercial consequences of such a breach of security could be disastrous for a bank. He also mentioned the frequency of cybersecurity incidents globally.

The second example he gave was related to the evolution of social media.

As he mentioned, we did not see the risks of social media over a decade ago. Now even governments cannot properly control it.

Unfortunately, social media is not social anymore. It is used for harmful purposes such as selling illegal materials, disseminating fake news, and discriminating against people.

My understanding of the critical concern is the difficulty of managing proliferating intelligent systems and a myriad of propriety codes.

Society can have significant challenges if we don’t have standards and compliance bodies to monitor artificial super-intelligent systems.

This is not just a national issue anymore. It is a global issue. Artificial super-intelligence can easily pass the borders.

The author has provided sentiments from his circles. For instance, some tech people naively believe that we can quickly turn off AI systems when they misbehave.

However, if systems become autonomous and integrate with a myriad of other systems, the on and off switch would not be available to operators.

This risk requires tight governance focus for the control of super AI systems.

He believes that optimism is good, but he does not sound optimistic for the future of super AI systems from ethical and regulatory perspectives, especially if the control goes to the hands of people with wrong motives for humanity.

I read another story from him introducing Sophia to the robot.

The article was more optimistic and uplifting, but this story about the impact and implications of AI super-intelligence left a pessimistic impression on me. Especially the use of the term “frightening” in his title was quite strong.

I see myself as a technology supporter and devotee embracing AI for good reasons. Though, the concerns raised by Dr Yildiz on the implications of the futuristic super AI systems resonated with me.

They are feasible and not too far away, considering the rapid growth of technology.

After reading his valid concerns in the article, I firmly believe that these concerns should be understood by policymakers, developers, and financial sponsors of AI super-intelligence systems before it gets too late.

I also think this is a global issue. Therefore, the governance plan and delivery should be maintained by international forums represented by every country with multiple stakeholders, including scientists, technologists, academics, business executives, and government representatives.

AI is evolving rapidly.

Many of us embrace it for good reasons.

However, before super AI systems start managing our lives, dominating humanity, and putting us in a vulnerable position, we must find clever ways to sustainably control them.

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