Top AI Researchers Terrified of a “Chernobyl Moment”: a Mass Casualty Event, or Worse, That Turns the World Against AI Forever
2 months ago by sanitation to c/technology
Let me put this in perspective:
In many countries its against the law to freely distribute plans for making neurotoxins or bombs, because the democratization of such knowledge would lower the threshold for people to commit acts of terror.
Likewise the plans for making a hydrogen bomb are a close kept government secret, because nuclear proliferation increases the likelihood of radiological accidents or even nuclear war.
How is it then that AI companies freely publish their AI models to any and all actors willing to pay them? Even though they know that this technology lowers the threshold for bad actors to commit cybercrime, engage in cyberwarfare, spread misinformation, commit fraud, manipulate markets and whatnot? The unregulated democratization of AI exposes societies to unprecedented risks.
Is it any wonder the public holds a negative view on AI?
Why are you comparing a tool used for knowledge and action augmentation to weapons created for destruction? Because your statement would look dumb if you said "electric motors and encyclopedias" instead of "neurotoxins and bombs".
I can use both electric motors and encyclopedias to inflict mass casualties against people who refuse to use them or the results of their labor, but that doesn't make them like bombs and neurotoxins. You're simply scared of a new technology because it's so different.
True, there are more valid reasons to hate AI, like that its usage inherently degrades the livability of our only planet or that it only functions due to artistic and intellectual property theft.
However, you're glossing over the reality that AI is already being used in weapons. It was also used by my government's regime to illegally kidnap the president of another country, even.
Electric motors and encyclopedias are irreplaceable in weapons. All electronics are used in weapons.
Farming, fishing, and electricity inherently degrade our planet far more than AI. They should all be used sustainably, wisely, and with an eye to ecosystem health and future generations. You'll get absolutely no argument from me there. Banning any of them or limiting their access to only the governments and corporations who are doing almost all the damage, is insanity.
When it comes to IP theft, that is a huge, non-ai problem. Again, corporations are responsible for almost all of the damage and we reap none of the benefits, even before AI was ever introduced. The problem is with how we allow corporations to copyright and restrict things for generations.
The solution is that AI, the technology that required all of humanity to contribute knowledge for it to exist, should be free for all to use. Why would IP theft be a reason to limit AI ownership to only corporations and governments? That's completely backwards.
Farming, fishing, and electricity inherently degrade our planet far more than AI.
They're also necessary for existence (at least the first two, but when it comes to medical applications, really electricity too).
AI slop? Nope.
Nope, we all lived just fine without farming and fishing. Then we lived just fine without industrial farming and fishing. We lived most of human existence without either, and certainly without modern medicine.
You just like those things and you don't like AI.
Then you dress all AI applications down to "AI slop". Which if you want to move the goalposts to "AI slop", we can agree that it's about as necessary as high fructose corn syrup and streaming entertainment. Do you fuss on those as hard as frivolous AI usage?
@Nouvellalia @7101334 funny how really the only argument AI boosters can make with regards to its environmental impact is "what about all the other stuff that is worse". What about it? What about that? Look over there! Yes I've been concerned about all those things, for many years, because I've been concerned about climate change, for many years. You haven't?
AI energy usage is not an "ai problem". Rancid oligarchs and zombie corpos should not be allowed to pillage from our air, water, and soil. Attacking ai specifically for this solves nothing. I'm saying "let's hard shut down the rot" and what are you? Schoolyard bullying me because you hate ai specifically? You are the one employing distraction tactics, trying to bandaid a fatal wound inflicted by a ravenous system of exploitation.
"Rancid oligarchs and zombie corpos should not be allowed to pillage from our air, water, and soil. Attacking ai specifically for this solves nothing."
And what does defending and promoting "AI" (which is a marketing lie since there is no intelligence involved) do to prevent oligarchs and corpos from pillaging our natural resources?
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Wait, so its not the actual event and ensuing casualties that have AI researchers spooked, but the fact that it might cause the public to turn against AI?
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