Is the ‘AIpocalypse’ – a science-fiction-style scenario in which artificial intelligence brings about the end of humanity – about to unfold? That is what a former OpenAI researcher, Jacob Coxon, claimed on social media: ‘AI could kill us all by the end of the decade’. The CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI and even Elon Musk, at the helm of Grok, have followed suit and called for a slowdown in the development of AI, which risks becoming uncontrollable, or even autonomous… Donald Trump has taken the opposite view, citing Chinese competition as an even greater risk.
Amidst the frenzy, other voices are calling for a more nuanced view. Most experts believe that the risk exists but remains low in the short term, and that the AI giants still have control, at this stage, over their creations. Financial stakes, the risk of a speculative bubble and ‘fear-mongering’ could be largely to blame for the ‘AIpocalypse’ and the calls for a slowdown. One thing is certain: international regulation is more essential than ever.
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