Accept the seriousness of concerns about jobs… and doubts about “business motives”.
Friday – 9 Ramadan 1444 AH – March 31, 2023 AD Issue no. [16194]
Cairo: Hazem Badr
1,377 experts, scientists and technology producers have called for a six-month “strike”, during which companies will stop developing artificial intelligence systems for six months, causing a difference in the opinions of experts.
While some agreed on the “seriousness of concerns” regarding employment risks and the need for “digital governance”, others questioned the “commercial and economic motives” that may be motivating some of the participants in the call.
The “Open AI” company, in the middle of this month, surprised the world with a copy of “Chat GBT 4”; Months after version 3.5 of the same technique.
A petition prepared by the Institute for the Future of Life on Wednesday was signed by prominent figures including Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla electric cars, and (Apple’s) Steve Wozniak.
Asharq al-Awsad spoke to 5 experts, including 4 of the petition’s signatories, to explore the reasons behind the “militancy program”. Tony Prescott, a professor of cognitive robotics at Britain’s University of Sheffield, told Asharq Al-Awsad, “My main concerns are the impact on human jobs and the potential for an increase in misinformation.”
The Egyptian-Canadian telecommunications scientist, the inventor of Wi-Fi, has made no secret of his fears about what he describes as “economic and commercial motives arising from competition between technology companies.” Zaghloul told Asharq Al-Awsat that these motives “may be behind some people signing this petition, but others’ motives are noble.”
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