Opinions of contributing entrepreneurs are their own.
“The era of AI has begun”, Bill Gates declared in March, reflecting on an OpenAI demonstration of achievements such as passing an AP Bio exam and providing a thoughtful, touching answer to the question of what it would do if it fathered a sick child.
At the same time, tech giants such as Microsoft and Google are engaged in a race to develop AI technology, integrate it into their existing ecosystems and dominate the market. In February, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said challenged Google’s Sundar Pichai to “come out and dance” on the AI battlefield.
It is a challenge for companies to keep up. On the one hand, AI promises to streamline workflows, automate tedious tasks and increase overall productivity. Conversely, the AI sphere is fast-paced and new tools appear all the time. Where should they place their bets to stay ahead?
And now many technical experts are backing down. Leaders such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Tesla’s Elon Musk, along with 1,300 other industry experts, professors and AI stars, all signed an open letter call to halt AI development for six months.
At the same time, Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI,” resigned as one of Google’s leading AI researchers and wrote a New York Times op-ed about the technology he had helped create.
Even ChatGPT’s Sam Altman joined in the chorus of cautionary voices at a congressional hearing.
But what are these warnings about? Why do tech experts say AI can actually pose a threat to businesses — and even humanity?
Here’s a closer look at their warnings.
Uncertain liability
To begin with, there is a very business-oriented concern. Reliability.
While AIs have developed amazing capabilities, they are far from flawless. ChatGPT famous for example scientific references invented in a paper, writing helped.
Consequently, the question of liability arises. If a company uses AI to perform a task and gives a customer incorrect information, who is liable for the damage? Company? The AI provider?
None of that is clear now. And traditional business insurance does not cover AI related liabilities.
Regulators and insurers are struggling to catch up. Only recently the EU established a framework to regulate AI liability.
Related: Curbing the AI Revolution Through the Power of Legal Accountability
Large-scale data theft
Another concern is related to unauthorized data use and cybersecurity threats. AI systems often store and process large amounts of sensitive information, much of which is collected in legal gray areas.
This can make them an attractive target for cyberattacks.
“In the absence of robust privacy regulations (US) or adequate, timely enforcement of existing laws (EU), companies tend to collect as much data as possible,” explains Merve Hickok, Chair & Research Director at Center for AI. and Digital Policy, in one interview with The Cyber Express.
“AI systems tend to connect rather disparate datasets,” Hickok continued. “This means that data breaches could result in more detailed data being exposed and cause even more serious damage.”
Disinformation
Then bad actors turn to AI to generate misinformation. Not only can this have serious consequences for political figures, especially with an election year approaching. It can also cause direct damage to businesses.
Whether targeted or accidental, disinformation is already widespread online. AI will likely increase the volume and make it harder to spot.
AI-generated photos of corporate executives, audio that mimics a politician’s voice, and artificial news anchors that announce compelling economic news. Business decisions based on such false information can have disastrous consequences.
Related: Pope Francis Didn’t Actually Wear a White Puffer Coat. But it won’t be the last time you’ll be fooled by an AI-generated image.
Demotivated and less creative team members
Entrepreneurs are also debating how AI will affect the psyches of individual members of the workforce.
“Should we automate all jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop non-human minds that can eventually outnumber us, outsmart, obsolete, and replace us?” asks the open letter.
According to Matt Cronin, the National Security & Cybercrime Coordinator for the US Department of Justice, the answer is a clear “No”. Such a large-scale replacement would destroy the motivation and creativity of people in the workforce.
“Mastering a domain and understanding a topic in depth takes a lot of time and effort,” he writes The hill. “For the first time in history, an entire generation can skip this process and still make progress in school and work. However, relying on generative AI has a hidden price. You don’t really learn – at least not in a way that meaningfully benefits from it You.”
Ultimately, the widespread use of AI may reduce team member competence, including critical thinking skills.
Related: AI can replace (some) jobs, but it cannot replace human connections. This is why.
Economic and political instability
What economic shifts the widespread adoption of AI will drive is unknown, but they will likely be large and rapid. After all, one recent estimate from Goldman Sachs predicted that two-thirds of current occupations could be partially or fully automated, with opaque implications for individual companies.
According to the more pessimistic view of experts, AI could also lead to political instability. This can range from election tampering to truly apocalyptic scenarios.
In a op-ed in Time Magazine, decision theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky called for a general halt to AI development. He and others argue that we are not prepared for powerful AIs and that unfettered development could lead to catastrophe.
Conclusion
AI tools have enormous potential to increase companies’ productivity and increase their success.
However, it is crucial to be aware of the danger AI systems pose, not only according to doomsayers and techno-skeptics, but according to the same people who developed these technologies.
That awareness will help instill a caution in companies’ AI approach that is critical to successful adaptation.
