This week, tech industry leaders and major tech moguls such as Elon Musk, Gary Marcus and Steve Wozniak proposed to put a pause on artificial intelligence (AI) research and development for six months to allow for the implementation of safety programs and strong governance models. The signatories of the open letter claim that the current competitive race for developing and deploying AI systems is out of control and potentially can have disastrous effects. However, not everyone agrees with AI pause, as Coinbase CEO, Brian Armstrong, expressed his reservations about the policy by promoting advancement instead of stopping progress due to fear.

The open letter signed by 2,600 tech industry influencers did not go without criticism. Some believe the suggestion of pausing AI progress is due to a self-preservation motivation from the companies that are leading the race for AI development. This along with a general skepticism about the need for such drastic measure has been voiced in opposition of the letter. On the other hand, the signatories of the open letter argue that, as AI becomes more human-competitive at general tasks, it is essential to guarantee its positive effects, as well as mitigate its prominent risks.

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, expressed his opinion on the matter in a series of tweets. He argued that halting the development of AI can result in a lack of progress, and committees and bureaucracy cannot solve the issue at hand. He added that while there are risks associated with AI, the good outweighs the bad and shouldn't stop us from moving forward. He concluded his stance by indicating that anyone that uses fear to push for the control of central authorities should be looked at skeptically.

The response to the open letter requesting an AI Pause has received mixed reviews, leaving the outcome of the request still up in the air. Despite the concern from some people about the potential risks of artificial intelligence, the idea of a moratorium has been met with criticism, as many oppose a central control that is likely to boost monopolies and stop progress. Therefore, the onus is left with the AI labs to decide whether to heed the open letter's request to halt their work for the time being.



Other News from Today