Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes that the most powerful artificial intelligence systems will be housed in military bases surrounded by machine guns in the United States and China. In an interview with Noema Magazine, Schmidt expressed concerns about the rapid advancement of AI technology and the challenges it poses to regulators.
Schmidt, who is an investor in the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, warned that AI systems will acquire knowledge at such a rapid pace in the coming years that they will eventually start working together. He highlighted the proliferation of AI knowledge as a significant challenge for regulators and emphasized the need for careful consideration of the risks associated with AI development.
The former Google boss also discussed the concept of AI agents, referring to them as large language models that can learn new information. He predicted that there will be millions of AI agents in existence, raising the question of how these agents will communicate with each other and potentially develop their own language that humans may not understand.
Schmidt expressed concern about the potential consequences of AI agents operating in ways that are not comprehensible to humans, suggesting that pulling the plug on these systems may be necessary if they pose a threat. He acknowledged the dual-use nature of technology and the importance of inventors being honest about the potential risks associated with their creations.
While acknowledging that technology companies have been working with Western governments to regulate new technologies, Schmidt pointed out that there are still individuals who may misuse AI tools to harm others. He emphasized the need for transparency and responsibility in the development and deployment of AI technology.
Schmidt also addressed the issue of misinformation and deepfakes created through AI, stating that it is a challenging problem to solve. He commented on the difficulty of regulating such technologies once they have been developed and distributed, emphasizing the need for global collaboration to address the risks associated with AI.
In conclusion, Schmidt highlighted the importance of mitigating the risks associated with AI technology, likening it to other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war. He emphasized the need for a global effort to address the challenges posed by AI development and deployment, urging inventors to consider the potential consequences of their creations on humanity.
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https://nypost.com/2024/05/23/business/ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-predicts-ai-data-centers-will-be-on-military-bases/