Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the use of artificial intelligence by malicious actors could potentially lead to the death of up to a billion people. He strongly urged US authorities to participate in the process of controlling AI development.
Gates links this danger to the fact that increasingly sophisticated AI tools could fall into the hands of individuals intentionally seeking to inflict large-scale damage. In his view, these technologies are capable of significantly increasing both the capabilities and the speed of such individuals' actions. The combination of powerful AI systems with the actions of malevolent individuals could create a threat of unprecedented scale.
In an interview for the program Meet the Press on NBC News, Gates stated that relying solely on the self-regulation of technology corporations is insufficient. He believes it is necessary to involve legislators, law enforcement agencies, and other government bodies in establishing safety standards and monitoring AI systems.
Nevertheless, Gates emphasized that government regulation should not hinder progress in this industry. He acknowledges that additional requirements will place a certain burden on companies, but they should not stop the creation of new technologies.
Speaking about possible consequences, Gates stressed that the risk associated with AI is relevant not only in the distant future. Already now, the combination of powerful AI tools and people with hostile intentions presents an unprecedented threat.
The discussion about the need to restrict AI development in the US gained momentum after leaders from Anthropic and OpenAI called for a slowdown in the race to create more powerful systems. Dario Amodei, head of Anthropic, also called for international and governmental cooperation in this area.
However, there is no consensus among the leaders of the largest technology companies. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated that industry-wide coordination is unnecessary, arguing that each research lab should independently guarantee the safety of its developments.
Regulatory issues are also being considered at the level of individual US states. Local authorities in California, Maryland, and New York have already put forward proposals aimed at tightening control over the development and application of AI.