Africa-Press – Eswatini. Until recently, if you had asked the average person to state the three most significant changes in recent centuries, they might have said; the industrial revolution, invention of electricity and the birth of the internet. But artificial intelligence (AI) – what it has, what it promises and what it even threatens – will demand the right of inclusion.
It never stops surprising us. We had imagined there would be no-entry zones of human behaviour – for example the cognitive skills such as thinking – into which hi-tech innovation couldn’t progress. But we were wrong. Could it even be that, in 50 years from now, machines will have replaced mankind? The answer must surely be – substantially yes, but exclusively no. There’s always the human touch, the creativity in a mannerism, the inimitable doctor’s bedside manner. But there’s no disputing the exponential increase in computer superpower and the potential for using it.
Investing
That’s not just about having the technical skills, but also the raw computing power. The UK Government is investing over £1 million (E23 billion) in a supercomputer, thousands of times faster than the one you have at home. The Google Sycamore quantum computer can, in only 200 seconds, solve a maths problem that could take a state-of-the-art supercomputer 10 000 years. That’s got to be a bit frightening. What isn’t frightening is that such incredible computing power could, one day, give rise to the identification of cures for dementia and cancer. AI will usher in new advances in human capability and the chance to solve problems that we once thought beyond us. London-based Wayve is using sophisticated AI software to create a new generation of electric, self-driving cars.
But there are dangers. It will become easier to build chemical or biological weapons, with terrorist groups using AI to spread fear and destruction on an even greater scale. Cyber-attacks could increase, as could fake news and information. At worst, mankind could even lose control of AI completely. Avoiding such a catastrophe is a global priority, alongside the prevention of the present mega-risks, such as serious pandemics and nuclear war. It is, therefore, reassuring that the powers that be are tackling the risks. In terms of protection and prevention, the hi-tech world is not sitting on its hands.
Safety
One impressive example is the UK Government’s initiative, launched last week. First, they’re building a world-leading capability to understand and evaluate the safety of AI models within a government. To achieve that, the UK has already invested £100m (E2.3 billion) in a new taskforce, recruiting some of the most respected and knowledgeable figures in the world of AI, while establishing the world’s first AI Safety Institute in the UK; and making the work of that safety institute available to the world. With initiatives like that, how come Rishi Sunak’s government is currently so unpopular?
But they can’t do all this alone, so the UK is to host the world’s first ever Global AI Safety Summit this very week at Bletchley Park, the site of the UK’s secret wartime code-breaking operation, where teams developed the forerunner of the modern computer. And among the 100 States attending will be China, not least because there can be no serious strategy for AI without involving the world’s leading AI powers, developing an inclusive, legitimate process for AI global governance, rather like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), under the auspices of the United Nations. They must achieve an international scientific consensus on values, ethical principles, design of international agreements and their implementation and monitoring. A global expert panel, nominated by the countries and organisations, will be attending, and will produce a State of AI Science report.
What was interesting is the UK prime minister’s view that the UK ranks third in the world for technology, behind only the USA and China. As the UK deals with the negative impact of its BREXIT severance of membership in the European Union, Sunak believes in the importance, as safeguards, of the UK being the most pro-investment tax regime, the most pro-entrepreneur visa regime, to attract the world’s top talent and develop the education reforms to give young people the skills to succeed. It will be highly valuable for the new Eswatini Government’s administration leadership to re-examine how well it performs in those critically important areas.
Solve
Remaining on the positive side of advancing, AI will help solve some big challenges such as; achieving the promise of nuclear fusion, providing abundant, cheap and clean energy with virtually no emissions. It can help us solve world hunger, by making food cheaper and easier to grow; and prevent crop failures by accurately predicting when to plant, harvest or water our crops. The essential hi-tech bottom line is one going beyond the naked ability to invent and utilise, but also to develop mutually trusting agreements and other protocols that give rise to solid and trustworthy collaboration between all countries. And that’s a tall order. You could possibly trust China and Russia in such an area, although the report of the independent COVID-19 investigation left a few questions unanswered. But what about North Korea? You wouldn’t trust their leader further than you could throw him; and that wouldn’t be very far.
Source: TIMMES
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