Artificial intelligences represent a risk to mankind, which could be driven to extinction. This was said in an open letter by some employees and former employees of companies active in the sector, such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, who expressly asked to be able to expose the dangers linked to these new technologies by leaving the anonymity to which they are forced by contracts signed with the aforementioned.
The letter begins by stating that the signatories believe “in the potential of AI technology to bring unprecedented benefits to humanity.” He goes on to say: “However, we also understand the serious risks posed by these technologies. These risks range from further entrenching existing inequalities, to manipulation and disinformation, to loss of control of autonomous AI systems potentially leading to human extinction.” According to the letter, the companies themselves have recognized these risks, as have governments around the world. Other artificial intelligence experts also agree.
Explain yourself better
“We are confident that these risks can be adequately mitigated with guidance from the scientific community, policymakers and the public. However, AI companies have strong financial incentives to avoid comprehensive oversight, and we do not believe that bespoke corporate governance structures are sufficient to change the state of things.” In short, there would be a need for third-party monitoring of these technologies, which however companies do not allow so as not to ruin their business. It almost sounds like the plot of a dystopian film.
The letter goes on to state that these companies have important confidential information about the “capabilities and limitations of their systems, the adequacy of their protection measures, and the risk levels of harm they could cause.” Currently, however, they have no obligation to share information with governments or supervisory bodies, much less with civil society, which will be the most affected. The signatories of the letter doubt whether these companies can be trusted to handle information and share it. After all, who better than a bunch of money-hungry managers to effectively and sensibly manage the future of humanity? We all know that they will only act for our good.
“Until there is effective government oversight of these companies, current and former employees are among the few people who can hold them accountable to the public. However, stringent confidentiality agreements prevent us from making our concerns known if not to the companies themselves, which of them may not face these problems.”
The letter concludes by asking companies to open up to criticism about the risks of artificial intelligence, not by imposing silence on employees through contracts or economic retaliation.
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