An open letter dated May 30, 2023, from the Center for A.I. Safety highlights the existential threat posed by artificial intelligence, with notable signatories including tech leaders from OpenAI and Google, musician Grimes, and public figures. The call for caution in AI development faces criticism and raises concerns about its impact on various societal issues.
An open letter, dated May 30, 2023, issued by the Center for A.I. Safety (CAIS), warns that artificial intelligence (AI) poses an existential threat to humanity. The letter, unusually concise, has garnered signatures from notable figures across tech, academia, and even the music industry. Signatories include Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Geoffrey Hinton, an AI pioneer; and musician Grimes.
The letter emphasizes that mitigating AI’s extinction risks should be a global priority, akin to addressing pandemics or nuclear war. This stark message follows earlier letters from other tech luminaries warning of AI’s potential dangers.
Among the notable signatories, OpenAI executives, including Sam Altman, have shared mixed sentiments about AI’s rapid evolution. Geoffrey Hinton, who recently resigned from Google, expressed regret over his life’s work in AI. Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, also signed the letter alongside several Google employees, advocating cautious development of AI.
Grimes, known for integrating AI into her music, and other public figures like podcaster Sam Harris and former Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, also endorsed the cautionary message.
Other signatories include AI startup leaders like Dario Amodei of Anthropic, who has advocated for regulations to control AI risks. Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott, whose firm is a major AI player through its partnership with OpenAI, also signed the letter, despite his assertion that AI has great potential for positive economic impact.
The letter raises questions about whether such cautionary calls might serve as a strategic move to gain an edge in the highly competitive AI industry. Critics, including University of Washington law professor Ryan Calo, suggest that focusing on catastrophic risks might divert attention from more immediate issues like AI’s impact on labor, privacy, and the environment.
