Silicon Valley heavyweight Elon Musk has expressed his shock at the apparent lack of awareness displayed by Russia’s Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, in regards to the advancements being made in artificial intelligence and sustainable energy.
It all started with a tweet from Medvedev, in which he made a series of bold predictions for the year 2023, including a rise in oil and gas prices, the collapse of the European Union, and the creation of a “Fourth Reich”. In response, Musk tweeted that these predictions showed an “astonishing lack of awareness” and highlighted the importance of progress in these areas.
Some have agreed with Musk’s assessment, pointing to the numerous errors and unrealistic assumptions present in Medvedev’s predictions. But the simple exchange failed to spark a debate on the future of AI and sustainability, despite two of the most prominent people tackling global issues.
The exchange highlights the fact that the majority of the world still doesn’t fully comprehend the true potential and rapid advancement of AI. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted in a tweet last August, “AI is a rare example of an extremely hyped thing that almost everyone still underestimates the impact of in even the medium-term.”
The mind-blowing capabilities of ChatGPT serve as a reminder of just how close we are to achieving dangerously strong AI, and the importance of continued awareness and action in this rapidly evolving field.
As the world becomes more reliant on technology and looks towards a more sustainable future, it is crucial that leaders are aware of and actively working towards progress in these areas. Musk’s response serves as a reminder of the need for awareness and action in the face of a rapidly changing world.
With OpenAI’s next large language model, GPT4, already causing a stir in Silicon Valley, it seems that we are on the cusp of a new era in AI development. As Kevin Roose of the NYT shared, “if you talk to people in Silicon Valley who work in AI research, they kind of talk about this like it’s magic”.
The pursuit of artificial intelligence and sustainable energy has long been a focus for Musk and others in Silicon Valley. In fact, the goal is to create systems that surpass humans in every category, essentially restructuring society, even though that comes with a risk of total annihilation if things go sideways.
“ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI,” Musk tweeted in December. Altman was quick to concur, replying, “I agree on being close to dangerously strong AI in the sense of an AI that poses e.g. a huge cybersecurity risk.”
He went on to add we might be on our way to building a true AGI in the next decade and advises utmost caution moving forward.
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