Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently spoke at the Qatar Foundation’s Education City Speaker Series, discussing the immense positives that can arise from the development of artificial intelligence (AI). He argued that AI has the potential to solve major problems facing societies, such as climate change, education, and disease eradication. Altman also touched on other aspects of AI, including its role in education, its risks, and the inequality of the technology among developing and developed countries.
Altman pointed out that experts had inaccurately predicted the impact of automation on physical tasks and basic cognitive labor. He urged caution, noting that predicting the future of AI is complex and difficult. The session also addressed concerns about job losses due to AI, with Altman saying that while there would be some impact, humans would be able to operate at a higher level and quality in most categories.
The Education City Speaker Series is a platform for thought-leaders and experts to share their perspectives with the public. The event provided an opportunity for members of Qatar’s community to interact with Altman and learn about the potential of AI. The Qatar Foundation’s global education thinktank WISE moderated the session.
Altman also visited the Qatar Computing Research Institute during his stay in Education City. The speech sparked discussion on the need for careful consideration of the impact of emerging technologies and their role in shaping societies.
