Sundar Pichai warns AI could be harmful if deployed wrongly

Sundar Pichai AI is more important than fire or electricity.

Sundar Pichai AI is more important than fire or electricity.

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, has expressed concerns about the potential harm that artificial intelligence (AI) can cause if deployed incorrectly.

In an interview on CBS’s 60 minutes programme, Pichai called for a global regulatory framework for AI . This is similar to the treaties used to regulate nuclear arms use. In addition he warned that the competition to produce advances in the technology could lead to concerns about safety being pushed aside.

Pichai added that the negative side to AI gave him restless nights. Also the governments would need to figure out global frameworks for regulating AI as it developed.

Pichai’s comments come as the New York Times reported on Sunday that Google was building a new AI-powered search engine. Microsoft’s rival service Bing integrated the chatbot technology behind ChatGPT as a response.

Pichai admitted that Google did not fully understand how its AI technology produced certain responses. Referring to this as a “black box” aspect of the technology. However, he noted that at least people have become alert to its potential dangers more quickly than with other technologies.

Pichai said the economic impact of AI would be significant, with the potential to impact every product across every company. He provided the example of a radiologist potentially working with an AI assistant to help prioritise cases in five to 10 years.

However, he also acknowledged that AI could cause harm through its ability to produce disinformation. He cited the potential for the creation of a video of someone saying something that they never actually said.

Pichai added that society did not appear to be ready for rapid advances in AI. He stated that there “seems to be a mismatch” between the pace at which society thinks and adapts to change compared with the pace at which AI is evolving.

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