Elon Musk has expressed his belief that AI represents “one of the most significant threats” to human civilization and commended the UK for its “opportune” summit addressing the safety of this emerging technology.
The tycoon emphasized that AI poses an “existential danger,” marking the first instance in history where humanity is confronted with a force “significantly more intelligent than ourselves.”
Speaking at the inaugural session of the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, Musk highlighted the government’s role in facilitating discussions among global leaders, technology companies, and researchers about the potential perils of progressing AI technology.
During the summit, a video message from the King was presented, equating the rise of AI to pivotal moments in history such as the mastery of electricity, the atom’s division, and the discovery of fire.
Musk shared with PA: “For the first time, we are in a scenario where we are introducing something substantially smarter than the most intelligent human.
“While we may not be stronger or quicker than other species, our intelligence sets us apart. Now, we find ourselves at a unique point in history, facing something that will surpass our intelligence by a significant margin.
“It remains uncertain whether we can maintain control over such a force. However, I believe we can strive to steer it towards a trajectory that benefits humanity.
“I do consider it to be one of the existential threats we are up against, and arguably the most urgent when you take into account the pace of progress and the timescale involved. The summit is happening at just the right time, and I commend the Prime Minister for initiating it.”
