- Over 2,600 signatories
- Pause AI development
- Fears of profound risks
More than 2,600 tech leaders, researchers, and industry experts have united to sign an open letter calling for a temporary pause on further artificial intelligence (AI) development, voicing concerns about the potential far-reaching risks to society and humanity.
Prominent figures such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and a multitude of AI CEOs, CTOs, and researchers have lent their support to the letter, which was published by the United States think tank Future of Life Institute (FOLI) on March 22.
Source: futureoflife.org
FOLI urges AI companies to immediately halt the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. The institute highlights concerns about the potential dangers posed by human-competitive intelligence, including its impact on society and humanity as a whole.
According to FOLI, advanced AI could usher in a significant shift in the history of life on Earth, necessitating careful planning and resource allocation. However, the institute warns that current efforts fall short of the level of management required.
GPT-4, the latest version of OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot, was released on March 14. It has already demonstrated impressive capabilities, scoring within the 90th percentile on some of the most challenging U.S. high school and law exams. GPT-4 is believed to be ten times more advanced than the original ChatGPT.
Key concerns raised in the letter include the potential for AI-driven machines to inundate information channels with propaganda and falsehoods and the threat of widespread job loss due to automation.
