The development of AI technology has advanced drastically in the last decade and will continue to do so in the future. In a Financial Times essay, Ian Hogarth, a prolific AI investor and co-founder of Songkick, warns of the risk of “nuclear-level catastrophe” associated with the advancement of this technology and its potential implications. He refers to artificial general intelligence, which is the point at which a machine is able to understand, learn, and do all things that a human can, as “God-like AI.” Because of its potential power, Hogarth warns that if the technology is not properly managed and regulated, it could lead to the destruction or obsolescence of the human race.
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia—the popular chip maker used to power AI—said that AI has grown 1 million times more powerful in the last decade, courtesy of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Hogarth noted that some of the largest AIs present today have an impressive 100 million times more processing power than before. In spite of the excitement over the financial benefits associated with this technology, Hogarth urges caution due to the immense power it will have. He suggests that if unchecked, “God-like AI” could be a force beyond our control, and warns against the risk of waiting until it is too late for precautions to be taken.
OpenAI, which has many notable people associated with it like its CEO Sam Altman, has been making strides toward advancements in AI. In a 2019 interview with the New York Times, Altman compared the ambitions of this company to the Manhattan Project. He emphasized that “technology happens because it is possible” while noting they shared the same birthday. While this technology has the potential to bring great benefits to the world, it is important not to lose sight of the potential dangers that accompany a technology with this much power.
Hogarth implores the public to reconsider their take on the situation and take action to control the spread of AI. He advocates for competition between the leading companies in the industry, but also keeping in mind the importance of regulation and oversight. By creating these guidelines, it is possible to reduce the risk of chaotic and potentially catastrophic consequences. Hogarth’s view on the potential danger of artificial general intelligence makes it clear that while technology can be used to our advantage, we must remain vigilant of its potential implications.
