Musk warned that people will be inferior to AI in the future, threatening that there will be huge, provocative changes to how jobs are performed.
In the wake of the UK's landmark AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak engaged in a notable conversation with tech billionaire Elon Musk in London. Their dialogue encompassed the risks associated with artificial intelligence, the role of governments in addressing these challenges, and the potential consequences of AI for employment. Despite earlier tensions arising from Musk's tweets, the atmosphere during the interview was amiable, notes The Guardian.
The conversation began with mutual appreciation for the importance of the AI Safety Summit. Musk commended the event, stating, 'I'm glad to see at this point that people are taking AI safety seriously. Thanks for this summit. I think it will go down in history as quite important.'
The future of jobs in the age of AI
During his discussion with the Prime Minister at the closure of the AI Safety Summit, the CEO of Tesla expressed his belief that in the future, technology will possess the capability to perform a wide range of tasks, and people will choose to work solely for their own 'personal satisfaction'.
When prompted by Sunak about AI's impact on jobs, Musk offered a provocative prediction:
'I think we are seeing the most disruptive force in history here. We will have something for the first time that is smarter than the smartest human. There will come a point where no job is needed. You can have a job if you want to have a job for personal satisfaction, but the AI will be able to do everything.'
He added:'AI can do everything. I don’t know if that makes people comfortable or uncomfortable. It’s both good and bad. One of the challenges in the future will be: how do we find meaning in life?'
Earlier in the day, Sunak refuted the idea that AI would pose a threat to employment, emphasizing that it should be regarded as a 'co-pilot' rather than a potential replacement for human workers. The PM said:
'AI is a tool that can help almost everybody do their jobs better, faster, quicker, and that’s how we’re already seeing it being deployed. I’m of the view that technology like AI which enhances productivity over time is beneficial for an economy. It makes things cheaper, it makes the economy more productive.'
The conversation transitioned into a discussion of the role of governments in managing and mitigating the risks associated with AI. Musk strongly emphasized the necessity of government intervention, stating that he disagrees with 'less than 1% of regulations.'
As per The Telegraph, Musk characterized artificial intelligence as 'one of the most disruptive forces in history.' While acknowledging its potential for good, he emphasized that the probability of AI going awry is not negligible. This dual nature of AI underscores the importance of responsible development and oversight.
Elon Musk's involvement in AI and AI safety
Elon Musk's history with AI is well-documented. He co-founded OpenAI and played a crucial role in its initial funding. However, his departure from the organization in 2018 due to conflicts of interest related to Tesla marked a turning point in his perspective on AI development and safety.
In July, Musk announced the formation of xAI, a project aimed at 'understanding reality'. Although details about the project are limited, Musk's approach to AI safety, as described during the project's launch, revolves around creating a maximally truth-seeking AI system.
Challenges and controversies
The conversation also touched on some of the challenges and controversies surrounding AI and AI regulation. Musk's stance on the role of crowd-sourced moderation in addressing content issues on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), was examined. He defended the use of such a system, emphasizing the potential bias associated with centralized control.
China's inclusion in the AI Safety Summit sparked controversy, given concerns about its human rights record and advancements in AI technology. Prime Minister Sunak acknowledged the difficulties surrounding this decision, while Musk praised it as 'essential.'
Elon Musk's involvement in conversations with world leaders has been on the rise, highlighting his growing influence in geopolitics, technology, and various industrial sectors. His meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were noted.
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