Over a thousand experts in the field of AI development and technology have co-signed an open letter to all artificial intelligence labs, calling for a pause in the development and training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months.
The letter, published by the Future of Life organization, cites potential risks to society and humanity arising from the rapid development of advanced AI systems without shared safety protocols. The co-signing experts believe that we have reached a point where we should only train more advanced AI systems that include strict oversight and after building confidence that the risks that arise from their deployment are manageable.
The letter warns that modern AI systems are now directly competing with humans at general tasks, raising several existential and ethical questions that humanity still needs to consider, debate, and decide upon.
Some underlined questions concern the flow of information generated by AIs, the uncontrolled job automation, the development of systems that outsmart humans and threaten to make them obsolete, and the very control of civilization. The co-signers believe that during this pause, AI development teams will have the chance to come together and agree on establishing safety protocols which will then be used for adherence audits performed by external, independent experts.
Furthermore, policymakers should implement protective measures, such as a watermarking system that effectively differentiates between authentic and fabricated content, enabling the assignment of liability for harm caused by AI-generated materials, and public-funded research into the risks of AI.
The letter does not advocate halting AI development altogether; instead, it underscores the hazards associated with the prevailing competition among AI designers vying to secure a share of the rapidly expanding market. “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, engineer these systems for the clear benefit of all, and give society a chance to adapt,” concludes the text.
