Google UK’s Head of AI thinks it is an existential threat, as dangerous as climate change

Google’s Head of AI in the UK, Demis Hassabis, has drawn a parallel between the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and the global challenges posed by climate change. In an interview with The Guardian, Hassabis expressed concerns about the potential development of a superintelligent AI system that could go rogue and engage in malicious activities, including the creation of bioweapons.

Hassabis emphasized the need to take AI risks seriously, similar to addressing climate change. He highlighted the delay in coordinating an effective global response to climate change and its consequences, emphasizing that society cannot afford the same delay in dealing with AI.

While acknowledging the positive potential of AI in various sectors, Hassabis called for the establishment of an independent governing body for AI, similar to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This perspective is also shared by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

In response to these concerns, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic jointly announced a $10 million AI Safety Fund. The fund is intended to support research aimed at developing tools to effectively test and evaluate advanced AI models.

Hassabis welcomed this initiative and expressed that the AI community is at a pivotal moment in history.

However, it’s worth noting that despite the public discussions and actions related to AI safety and ethics, there have been instances of controversy within the AI community. In 2020, Google fired renowned AI ethicist Timnit Gebru and AI researcher Margaret Mitchell, citing that their co-authored paper didn’t meet the company’s publication standards. The paper highlighted several risks associated with AI, including environmental impact, potential impacts on marginalized communities, biases in training data, difficulties in auditing large datasets, and the potential for AI to deceive people.

The complex relationship between AI development, ethical concerns, and the pursuit of superintelligent AI systems underscores the ongoing debate within the AI industry.