Is artificial intelligence (AI) beneficial? It is. Is it harmful? That’s what those who are closely dealing with it are saying. Employees from various AI companies, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have raised concerns about the risks related to the usage of AI, as per a report by Reuters.
In an open letter, one current and former employee with Google DeepMind and eleven former and current employees with OpenAI highlighted how the financial interests of AI businesses impede efficient supervision. The letter reportedly added, “We do not believe bespoke structures of corporate governance are sufficient to change this.”
The letter also warns of the risks that might occur from unregulated usage of AI, and it might even lead to human extinction, according to the report. Chances of misinformation and an increase in existing inequalities are other possibilities that might arise with the unregulated usage of AI.
The report says that researchers have identified instances where image generators from companies like OpenAI and Microsoft created photos that contain voting-related disinformation. This is despite these companies having policies against such content.
The letter further states that AI companies have "weak obligations" to disclose information about their systems' capabilities and limitations to governments, emphasising that these firms cannot be expected to share such information voluntarily.
AI companies have been urged by the group to refrain from enforcing confidentiality agreements that forbid criticism and instead to create a channel for present and past employees to voice concerns about risks.
AI-generated scams and deepfakes are becoming a persistent concern for the authorities and the common people. Additionally, there is always the fear that AI can replace jobs. While highlighting that AI will make jobs optional, Elon Musk said, “If you want to do a job as a hobby, you can do a job. But otherwise, AI and robots will provide any goods and services that you want.”
