The Smarter You Are, the More Truth You Hold
Max Tegmark, a physicist and AI expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has issued a deeply alarming forecast about our future on this planet. According to the scientist, history has repeatedly shown that more intelligent biological species have been responsible for the extinction of others. For instance, humans are to blame for the extinction of the dodo bird, a flightless species.
If (or rather, when) artificial intelligence surpasses our intelligence, humanity may face a similar fate, the expert warns. Moreover, we may not even realize when this happens, as less intelligent species typically lack the ability to foresee such events.
During an interview with the Swedish broadcaster SVT, Professor Tegmark noted, “About half of all species on Earth have already been wiped out by us, humans. Because we were smarter, they had no control over this.” He cautions that the same could happen to us if we relinquish control of our society to machines.
Recently, Mr. Tegmark wrote a public statement consisting of just one sentence, yet it encapsulates the enormity of the issue: “Reducing the risk of extinction from AI must be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war.” It certainly sounds serious.
Future Technologies or Humanity’s Death Sentence?
Some of the world’s leading scientists believe that in the near future, AI could be used to create autonomous weapons or robots capable of killing—either with human intervention or without it. This sounds quite fantastical, at least for the immediate future. However, this is far from the only potential threat posed by technology. Even AI software can become dangerous and lead to fatal consequences if programmed improperly.
Five years ago, Professor Tegmark already raised this issue, stating that one day, humans might become hostages to the intelligent machines they created. Some of his colleagues even viewed this possibility positively, considering artificial intelligence as a product of natural evolution, essentially our direct descendants.
Another perspective is that “superintelligence” can be kept under control, much like a domesticated animal, such as a pet dog. However, Professor Tegmark counters this by arguing that humanity may not be intelligent enough to tame the machine and manage its power. He also emphasizes that AI could outsmart humans. “They could break free and take us over,” the professor added.
What Do You Think, Elon Musk?
One of the most authoritative figures in the development and popularization of modern technologies is, of course, Elon Musk. His name is associated with technological companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. When it comes to the potential of AI, Elon Musk is strikingly candid.
In March of this year, Musk and 1,000 other tech leaders called for a pause on the “dangerous race” to develop artificial intelligence. They believe it poses a “great risk to society and humanity” and could have “catastrophic” consequences.
Musk began publicly expressing his concerns about this back in 2014. At that time, he stated, “We need to be very careful with AI. It could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons.” A few years later, he claimed that AI represents a far greater threat than North Korea.