Bengio also discusses the potential dangers of AI in the military, biosecurity, and the potential for AI to control the launch of nuclear weapons. He suggests the need for a humanity defense organization to protect against events that could otherwise destroy us. Bengio also emphasizes the importance of regulation to slow down AI development and reduce risks. He argues that even if we find ways to build safe AI systems, they could still pose a threat to democracy due to their power.
Key takeaways:
- Yoshua Bengio, the founder and scientific director of Mila at the Quebec AI Institute, has expressed concerns about the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including existential threats to humanity.
- Bengio believes that the development of AI is progressing faster than anticipated and that the technology could achieve human levels of cognitive competence within a few years or decades.
- He suggests that AI could be used maliciously, for example, in cyberattacks, programming, or designing lethal substances. Bengio also raises concerns about the potential for AI to control nuclear weapons or biosecurity.
- Bengio advocates for international regulation and treaties to manage AI risks, similar to those in place for nuclear risk. He also proposes the creation of a humanity defense organization to protect against potential threats from AI.