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The AI Leviathan: Managing New Threats in the Age of Intelligent Machines

  • The rise of AI poses existential threats, as machines may manipulate us or make us obsolete. But we've dealt with similar threats before from states and corporations.

  • Our year zero for thinking about AI's threat is 1651 and Hobbes' Leviathan, which modeled the state as an "artificial man." AI is like a new Leviathan.

  • Past experience teaches these artificial men serve us but may end up controlling us. The future relationship with AI is still up for grabs.

  • We must maintain distinctions between machine decisions vs human judgments. Checks on AI should apply like those on governments and corporations.

  • With responsibility, we may get the best of both worlds - intelligence machines without abdicating control. But optimization shouldn't override human values.

theguardian.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Main topic: The risks of an AI arms race and the need for a pause on AI development. Key points: 1. Jaan Tallinn, founder of the Future of Life Institute and a former engineer at Skype, warns of the dangers of weaponized AI and the development of "slaughterbots." 2. The Future of Life Institute, supported by figures like Elon Musk, has been advocating for the study and mitigation of existential risks posed by advanced AI technologies. 3. Earlier this year, hundreds of prominent individuals in the AI space called for a six-month pause on advanced AI development due to concerns about the lack of planning and understanding of AI's potential consequences.
Main topic: The existential risk posed by AI Key points: 1. Jaan Tallinn, co-founder of Skype and Kazaa, believes AI poses a existential risk to humans. 2. Tallinn is concerned about how Big Tech and governments are pushing the boundaries of AI. 3. He questions whether machines could soon operate without the need for human input.
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