In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is constantly evolving, some fear that machines will take complete control of our lives. However, according to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the future of AI does not represent a threat to humanity. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, he said humans will continue to decide “what should happen in the world” regardless of the rise of AI.
According to Altman, AI is competent in certain areas, but it cannot make decisions in life or death situations. He describes it as a system that is sometimes fair, sometimes creative, but often completely off base. He also points out that we don’t want to let AI drive our cars, but we are happy to use it to help us generate ideas or write code.
One real-world example of the use of AI is ChatGPT, a generative AI system that can create content in response to user requests. Experts say such systems could transform the global economy. However, dystopian fears remain over whether AI could destroy humanity or lead to widespread job loss.
Despite these concerns, Altman takes an optimistic view of AI. He says people have found ways to make themselves more productive with generative AI and they also understand “what not to do with it.” Generative AI, he says, gives humans better tools and access to much greater potential. However, we still remain very focused on each other.
AI is a major topic of discussion at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, with many sessions exploring its impact on society, jobs and the broader economy. In a recent report, the International Monetary Fund predicted that AI will affect nearly 40% of jobs worldwide, “replacing some jobs and complementing others” but risking worsening income inequality.
On the same panel, Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, emphasized that AI does not replace humans, but complements them. He gave the example of a Gucci call center in Milan, where revenue and productivity increased after workers began using Salesforce’s AI software in their interactions with customers.
Despite optimism about the technology’s potential, Benioff and Altman emphasized the need to regulate AI systems in order to guard against some of the potential existential threats the technology poses..
Finally, Altman also discussed a copyright lawsuit filed by the New York Times against OpenAI, which he called a “strange thing,” as well as his abrupt dismissal and then rapid reinstatement by the OpenAI board. in November, which he called “ridiculous.” According to him, it’s time to laugh about all this.
In conclusion, AI continues to generate debate and questions about its impact on our society. However, it is reassuring to see experts such as Sam Altman and Marc Benioff highlighting the complementary role of AI for humans and the importance of its regulation. Despite technological advances, we remain the decision-makers of our world.