Microsoft founder Bill Gates rejected the idea of pausing artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology this week. Multiple tech sector experts including Tesla founder Elon Musk called for a pause of A.I. development for at least six months.
Gates rejected the idea of an A.I. pause and Microsoft announced the integration of such technology in their new software. The company announced tech that can help you make plans, chat with you and make images on the fly out of the ether.
The Microsoft founder said that he did not believe that “asking one particular group to pause solves these challenges.”
He also said that there are “huge advantages to these things.”
Musk and a number of other technology leaders signed an open letter calling for a pause in the development of artificial intelligence following a recent flurry of advancements.
Musk was joined by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The signers requested a six-month moratorium on developing “training of A.I. systems more powerful than GPT-4.”
The tech was organized by Open AI, which was co-founded by Musk. The Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) programs use complex algorithms to predict which letter or word should come next when prompted.
Such systems allow GPT-4 to be asked specific questions and receive human-like text in return. The latest GPT was released in March and is already leading to questions about the future of artificial intelligence and its potential effects on society and the economy.
Summary of argument against AI safety pic.twitter.com/Vmg4yJm22Y
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 4, 2023
In particular, GPT-4 has already passed a number of hurdles, including passing law and other exams. There is significant fear that A.I. would be able to replace or downsize a number of jobs. Furthermore, the advances in technology also lead to significant ethical concerns about the role of A.I. use by large technologies or the government.
For others, there is fear that if the United States does not lead in A.I. technology, other powers may do so instead. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that if the United States does not lead, then China will.
“We need to get our act together,” he said.
