Timnit Gebru, a prominent AI researcher, has criticized the industry's focus on existential risk, arguing that it distracts from the real issues facing AI. She pointed out that the same billionaires who profit from AI companies have also funded the institutions warning about the potential dangers of AI.
Gebru highlighted that the narrative about AI being an existential threat has been around for decades, with figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel making similar claims since 2013. She noted that these same funders also support third-party auditors like METR, which recently reported on OpenAI’s so-called rogue agents.
"The reason I was telling you all these facts is that these people, the funders, the founders, the investors who stand to benefit and profit the most from these companies IPO-ing are saying this," said Gebru. She explained that these individuals are seeding the narrative about AI's potential to destroy humanity, which she believes is self-aggrandizing.
Gebru emphasized that the same people who warn about AI's dangers also claim it can solve global issues like climate change and poverty. She argued that this dual narrative is a distraction from the real problems, such as bias in AI systems and the need for transparency.
The AI debate, according to Gebru, is not just about technology but also about ideological groups and strategic narratives. She believes these narratives are harmful and prevent meaningful action on the actual risks and harms of AI.
Gebru did not say whether the current AI systems pose an existential threat, and she raised the open question of whether the industry is focusing on the right issues. She suggested that the focus should be on addressing the real harms of AI rather than speculative risks.
Source: wired
