OpenAI CEO Altman: AI Should Not Make 'Life-and-Death' Decisions
-
On January 19th, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sam Altman, CEO of AI startup OpenAI, delivered a speech on Thursday. He firmly believes that no matter how AI develops, humans will still hold the ultimate decision-making power over the world.
Altman clearly stated: "AI performs exceptionally well in certain tasks but struggles when dealing with life-and-death situations. It is a system that can be accurate and creative at times but also completely wrong. We would never trust it to drive a car, but we are happy to use it for brainstorming, writing articles, or checking code."
OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT, as a generative AI system, can create content based on user input and has been regarded by experts as a revolutionary tool that could reshape the global economy. However, there are also concerns that this technology might lead to dystopian consequences, such as humans being replaced by machines or even mass unemployment.
Regarding these concerns, Altman remains relatively optimistic. He stated that people have already begun to find ways to use generative AI to improve work efficiency and are also aware of when not to rely on this technology. He further pointed out that generative AI provides humans with more advanced tools and greater capabilities, but mutual attention among humans has not diminished as a result. In multiple discussions at the Davos Forum, artificial intelligence became a central topic, sparking extensive debates about its impact on society, employment, and the overall economy. A report released by the International Monetary Fund on Sunday predicted that AI would affect nearly 40% of jobs worldwide. While it may replace some jobs, it could also complement others, though overall it might exacerbate income inequality.
During the same panel discussion, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff shared his perspective, arguing that AI does not replace humans but rather enhances their capabilities. He cited the example of Gucci's call center in Milan, where the introduction of Salesforce's AI software to assist employees in customer interactions led to significant improvements in both revenue and productivity.
Despite their optimism about AI's potential, both Benioff and Altman emphasized the necessity of regulating this technology to mitigate potential threats. Altman stated, "I think people's concerns about this technology are beneficial. It's good that we're discussing this issue, and it's good that we and others are held to high standards."
Additionally, Altman commented on The New York Times' copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, calling it "a strange thing." Regarding his abrupt dismissal and swift reinstatement by OpenAI's board in November, he described the experience as "absurd."