OpenAI CEO Warns That ‘Societal Misalignments’ Could Make Artificial Intelligence Dangerous

DUBAI, UAE — The CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI stated on Tuesday that the hazards that keep him awake at night about artificial intelligence are the “very subtle societal misalignments” that might cause the systems to wreak havoc.

Sam Altman, addressing via video call from the World Governments Summit in Dubai, reaffirmed his proposal to establish an organization similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor AI, which is expected to advance faster than the world expects.

OpenAI CEO Warns That ‘Societal Misalignments’ Could Make Artificial Intelligence Dangerous

“There are some elements in there that make it easy to imagine what may go wrong. And I’m not particularly interested in the killer robots walking down the street causing things to go wrong,” Altman remarked. “I’m much more interested in the very subtle societal misalignments where we just have these systems out in society and through no particular ill intention, things just go horribly wrong.”

However, Altman emphasized that the AI sector, including OpenAI, should not be responsible for developing industry laws.

“We are still in the middle of a lot of discussions. So, you know, everyone in the world is holding a conference. “Everyone has an idea, a policy paper, and that’s fine,” Altman explained. “I think we’re still at a time where debate is needed and healthy, but at some point in the next few years, we have to move towards an action plan with real buy-in around the world.”

OpenAI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup, is a leader in the industry. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI. The Associated Press has reached a partnership with OpenAI to grant them access to its news archive. Meanwhile, The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for using its content without permission to train OpenAI’s chatbots.

OpenAI CEO Warns That ‘Societal Misalignments’ Could Make Artificial Intelligence Dangerous

Altman’s success with OpenAI has made him the public face of generative AI’s rapid commercialization and anxieties about what the new technology may bring.

The UAE, an authoritarian federation of seven hereditary sheikhdoms, shows evidence of this risk. Speech remains strictly regulated. These constraints impact the flow of reliable information — the same details that AI programmes like ChatGPT employ as machine-learning systems to deliver user replies.

The Emirates also boasts the Abu Dhabi corporation G42, led by the country’s strong national security adviser. Experts believe G42 has the world’s leading Arabic-language artificial intelligence model. The corporation has been accused of spying due to its involvement with a mobile phone app identified as spyware. It has also faced allegations that it secretly collected genetic material from Americans for the Chinese government.

Due to American concerns, G42 has announced that it will break connections with Chinese suppliers. However, the conversation with Altman, hosted by the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar al-Olama, addressed none of the local issues.

OpenAI CEO Warns That ‘Societal Misalignments’ Could Make Artificial Intelligence Dangerous

Altman, for his part, said he was encouraged to see schools embrace AI as critical for the future, despite teachers’ fears that pupils might use it to compose papers. However, he stressed that artificial intelligence is still in its early stages.

“I think the reason is the current technology that we have is like… that very first mobile with a black-and-white screen,” said Altman. “So, give us some time. But, in a few more years, I believe it will be far better than it is now. And in a decade, it should be rather extraordinary.”

SOURCE – (AP)