“‘This is going to impact every product across every company’”
That was Google GOOG, -2.87% CEO Sundar Pichai talking about the future of artificial intelligence during a Sunday interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Google GOOGL, -2.89% launched its AI chatbot Bard last month, following the debut of OpenAI’s ChatGPT last fall, accelerating the conversation around AI and what types of regulation there might be in an industry growing at an exponential pace.
“This is why I think the development of this needs to include not just engineers but social scientists, ethicists, philosophers and so on,” Pichai said.
Common refrains people say about AI advancements are potential mass job loss, data privacy concerns and general anxiety about machine intelligence.
In the U.S., 69% of people say they are scared by AI, and that they don’t trust companies (58%) or the federal government (58%) with handling data that may be used for AI technology, according to research firm PA Consulting.
Google recently released a 20-page document entitled “recommendations for regulating AI” that includes proposals like “take a sectoral approach that builds on existing regulation,” and “adopt a proportionate, risk-based framework.”
Pichai says he welcomes regulation for AI, and says it may be necessary for AI to “align with human values including morality.”
See also: Bill Gates says AI is only the second revolutionary tech advancement in his lifetime
When asked whether society is prepared for advancements in AI technology, Pichai said, “on one hand, I feel no, because the pace at which we can think and adapt as societal institutions, compared to the pace at which the technology is evolving, there seems to be a mismatch.” But Pichai added he was “optimistic” because more people are worried about AI, and therefore conversations about its use will start earlier than with other emerging technologies.
Microsoft MSFT, +0.32% founder Bill Gates, whose company is an investor and partner with ChatGPT creator OpenAI, commented on AI’s rapid development last month.
“This new technology can help people everywhere improve their lives,” Gates said. “At the same time, the world needs to establish the rules of the road so that any downsides of artificial intelligence are far outweighed by its benefits, and so that everyone can enjoy those benefits no matter where they live or how much money they have. The Age of AI is filled with opportunities and responsibilities.”
See also: Elon Musk may create ChatGPT rival, new report says
In recent weeks, several thought leaders in the tech industry signed a petition that called for AI developers to halt their efforts for six months. Among the petition signers were Tesla TSLA, -0.33% and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Apple AAPL, -0.35% co-founder Steve Wozniak, and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
The interview from Pichai comes as a mobile search battle between Google and Microsoft appears to be underway. A Monday report from the New York Times said that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. 005930, +0.31% was mulling changing its default search engine from Google to Microsoft’s Bing. Up to $3 billion in yearly revenue would be at stake for Google, the report says.
Read on: Biden administration considers crackdown on AI tools such as ChatGPT
Add Comment