Big Tech bosses told to protect public from AI risks
Tech bosses, including Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Sam Altman of OpenAI, were summoned to the White House on Thursday and told they have a moral duty to protect society from the dangers of AI. The executives were informed that it was up to firms to ensure the safety and security of their AI products, and that the White House may regulate the sector further.
Recently launched AI products, such as ChatGPT and Bard, have sparked renewed debate over the role of AI in society. While they offer significant benefits, there are concerns that they may lead to job losses, the dissemination of misinformation, and breaches of copyright law.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has said that the private sector has an ethical, moral, and legal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of their products. The White House announced a $140m investment from the National Science Foundation to launch seven new AI research institutes.
Calls for better regulation of AI have been coming thick and fast, from both politicians and tech leaders. While some, like Bill Gates, argue that an AI “pause” would not solve the challenges ahead, others warn against over-regulating the sector, which would give a strategic advantage to tech companies in China.