Tech Experts, Leaders Warn Of AI Extinction Risk – SlashGear

In March, the likes of Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak signed “Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter” alongside scientists and academics, asking for a six-month pause on the development of advanced AI products like OpenAI’s GPT-4 model. Musk subsequently sat with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and quipped that AI has the potential for civilizational destruction.

“The world needs to establish the rules of the road so that any downsides of artificial intelligence are far outweighed by its benefits,” wrote Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in a blog post. Over the past few months, calls for AI regulation have picked up from both sides of the aisle.

In May, Altman sat before Congress and pitched the idea of forming a new agency that regulates AI and “licenses any effort above a certain threshold of capabilities.” Altman, who recently toured Europe, initially warned that OpenAI would be forced to leave operations in the EU bloc if regulations crossed a certain line, but made a 180-degree reversal two days later.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a CBS interview that he expects government-fueled AI regulation to materialize in the coming years, and wrote an in-depth article on setting up a framework to achieve those goals. As calls for AI regulation intensify, lawsuits over abusive usage have already started pouring in, while big tech continues to relentlessly push AI integration in products at a feverish pace.