Stop Artificial Intelligence! 1000 experts call for a pause in AI training

'Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter',  is the title of the letter that more than 1,000 technology and business leaders have signed, among them Elon Musk.

In the letter, issued by the Future of Life Institute, they ask the laboratories to stop the development of the current most advanced Artificial Intelligence systems.

The letter warns, "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity."

The authors of the letter note that  "recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no-one - not even their creators - can understand, predict, or reliably control".

The letter also quotes a blog post in which OpenAI warns the world of the risks  if an artificial general intelligence (AGI) were developed recklessly: "A misaligned superintelligent AGI could cause grievous harm to the world; an autocratic regime with a decisive superintelligence lead could do that, too."

Among the signatories are illustrious names such as Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple, in the photo) or Craig Peters (CEO of Getty Images).

Among the proposals made by the open letter is to "introduce security protocols" for AI systems, adding that in order to apply these protocols, it is necessary to stop the development of AI more powerful than GPT-4.

"If such a pause cannot be quickly enacted, governments should step in and institute a moratorium," they requested.

Photo: Unsplash - Andy Kelly

The authors request that the focus of AI development change, writing, "AI research and development should be refocused on making today's powerful, state-of-the-art systems more accurate, safe, interpretable, transparent, robust, aligned, trustworthy, and loyal."

Photo: Unsplash - Boitumelo Phetla

The tricky thing, they say, is that these tools have been flawed in detail, along with a tremendous ability to spread misinformation.

Photo: Unsplash - Drew Dizzy Graham

Among the risks to which the open letter alleges are the so-called 'Hallucinations', which are information and data offered by the AI that seem completely reliable but are actually erroneous.

Photo: Unsplash - Maximalfocus

Basically, the signatories request a sustainable and organic development of AI, developing it "only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable."

Photo: Unsplash - Jonathan Kemper

Nonetheless, the authors point out "Humanity can enjoy a flourishing future with AI. Having succeeded in creating powerful AI systems, we can now enjoy an "AI summer" in which we reap the rewards."

Photo: Unsplash - Lukas

The authors hope that by slowing down we can avoid the risks of an "AI Fall" stating, "Society has hit pause on other technologies with potentially catastrophic effects on society. We can do so here. Let's enjoy a long AI summer, not rush unprepared into a fall."

Photo: Unsplash - Markus Spiske

Obviously, there are those who have not wanted to sign the letter, as is the case of Sam Altman (pictured), executive director of OpenAI.

This refusal leads the signatories to think that the technological community will not accept this moratorium, which adds in the complicated option of governments legislating Artificial Intelligence.

Photo: Unsplash - Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

While waiting to see the impact of this letter, it is possible that the number of signatories will increase in the coming weeks, as well as those who oppose it will also increase in number. We will just have to wait and see what happens, the outcome of which could have a profound affect on society.

Photo: Unsplash - Possessed Photography