High profile tech trolls Elon Musk and Bill Gates have clashed over the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI). After Musk and others issued a warning about the risk to society posed by AI tech, Gates does not think that pausing AI’s development will “solve” the challenges presented.
Gates’ comments come a week after a non-profit organization, the Future Of Life Institute, issued a letter containing 1,125 signatures and an appeal for a six-month pause on the advanced development of AI. More than 9,400 signatures have since been added, yet Gates believes that asking one particular group to pause will not make an effective difference.
In 2019, Microsoft invested $1 billion in generative text bot ChatGPT’s creator OpenAI, and recently announced plans to further invest in this company. However, there have been other voices that have casted doubt about skipping development for six months. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman argued that giving bad actors the chance to use AI for the same period of time would give them the opportunity to catch up on tech advancements.
These discussions about the ethics and challenges risen by advanced AI will remain relevant in a wide discussion on technology. While AI development may raise concerns about safety, the responsibility lies in the hands of tech companies and developers to ensure these systems are being developed responsibly.
Microsoft is an American multinational technology company that has been found in 1975 and is known for creating a number of software products, such as Windows OS, Office, and Xbox console. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella renowned for modernizing Microsoft, leading the company to focus on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and rivalry against Google and Amazon.
Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft and the wealthiest person in the world. His immense success has impacted technology and philanthropy alike. In the 80s and 90s, Gates helped shape the computer industry with groundbreaking business and technical initiatives. Now his focus and wealth are enabling him to make a difference on a global scale. He serves as the technology advisor at Microsoft, and as the board of director of Berkshire Hathaway. As a philanthropist, Gates has created the charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has contributed millions of dollars to global education, health, and wellbeing.
