Monthly Archives: June 2024

Excerpted from Our Next Reality 2024 Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Reprinted with permission. This article may not be reproduced for any other use without permission.

Its clear theres a lot of fear and misinformation about the risks and role of AI and the metaverse in our society going forward. It may be helpful to take a three-phase view of how to approach the problem. In the next 1-10 years, we should look at AI as tools to support our lives and our work, making us more efficient and productive. In this period, the proto-metaverse will be the spatial computing platform we go to learn, work, and play in more immersive ways.

In the following 11-50 years, as more and more people are liberated from the obligation of employment, we should look at AI as our patron which supports us to explore our interests in arts, culture, and science, or whatever field we want to pursue. Most will also turn to the metaverse as a creative playground for expression, leisure, and experimentation. In the third phase, after 50+ years (if not sooner), I would expect the worlds many separate AGI (artificial general intelligence) systems will have converged into a single ASI (artificial superintelligence) with the wisdom to unite the worlds approximately 200 nations and help us manage a peaceful planet with all its citizens provided for and given the choice of how they want to contribute to the society.

At this point, the AI system will have outpaced our biological intelligence and limitations, and we should find ways to deploy it outside our solar system and spread intelligence life into all corners of the galaxy and beyond. At this third stage, we should view AI as our children, for these AI beings will all have a small part of us in them.

Just like we possess in our genes a small part of all the beings that preceded us in the tree of life. They will hence forth be guided by all the memes humans have created and compiled throughout our history, from our morals and ethics to our philosophy and arts. The metaverse platform will then become an interface for us to explore and experience the far reaches of the Universe together with our children although our physical bodies may still be on Earth. Hopefully, these children will view us as their honorable ancestors and treat us the way Eastern cultures treat their elderly, with respect and care. As with all children, they will learn their values and morals by observing us. Its best we start setting a better example for them by treating each other as we would like AIs to treat us in the future.

Of course, the time frames above are only estimates, so could happen faster or slower than described, but the phases will likely occur in that order, if we are able to sustainably align future AGI/ASI systems. If for some reason, we are not able to align AGI/ASI, or they are misused by bad actors to catastrophic outcomes then the future could be quite dark.

I must however reiterate that my biggest concerns have always been around the risk of misuse of all flavors of AI by bad actor humans (vs. an evil AGI), and we need to do all in our power to prevent those scenarios. On the other hand, Ive increasingly become more confident that any superintelligent being we create will more likely be innately ethical and caring, rather than aggressive and evil.

If we take the right calculated actions in the coming decade, it could very well be the beginning of a new age of prosperity for mankind and all life everywhere.

Carl Jung said, The more you understand psychology, the less you tend to blame others for their actions. I think we can all attest that there is truth in this statement simply by observing our own mindset when interacting with young children. Remember the last time you played a board game with kids; did you do all possible to crush them and win? Of course not. When we dont fear something, we gain added patience and understanding. Well, the ASI we are birthing wont just understand psychology fully, but all arts, sciences, history, ethics, and philosophy. With that level of wisdom, it should be more enlightened than any possible human, and attain a level of understanding we cant even imagine.

A 2022 paper from a group of respected researchers in the space also found linkages between compassion and intelligence. In July 2023, Elon Musk officially entered the AI race with a new company called xAI, and the objective function of their foundational model is simply stated as understand the Universe. So it seems he shares my view that giving AI innate curiosity and a thirst for knowledge can help bring forth some level of increased alignment. Thus, you can understand why I reserve my fear, mainly for our fellow man. Still, it certainly couldnt hurt if we all started to set a better example for our budding prodigy and continue to investigate more direct means to achieve sustainable alignment.

We are near the end of the hundred-thousand-year ignorance and aimless toil phase of the Anthropocene epoch and will soon turn the page to start a new age of enlightenment far beyond our dreams.

There are many today who are calling for the end of civilization or even the end of humans on Earth due to recent technological progress. If we take the right calculated actions in the coming decade, it could very well be the beginning of a new age of prosperity for mankind and all life everywhere. We are near the end of something. We are near the end of the hundred-thousand-year ignorance and aimless toil phase of the Anthropocene epoch and will soon turn the page to start a new age of enlightenment far beyond our dreams.

When we do find a solution for AI alignment, and peacefully transition our world to the next phase of progress, the societal benefits will be truly transformational. It could lead us to an exponential increase in human understanding and capabilities. It will bring us near-infinite productivity and limitless clean energy to the world. The inequality, health, and climate issues that plague the world today could disappear within a relatively short period. And we can start to think more about plans at sci-fi time scales to go boldly where no one has gone before.

Read this article:

The 3 phases of AI evolution that could play out this century - Big Think

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Mays product announcements by Google and OpenAI emphasized a number of embedded audio and visual capabilities, but none were more important than the faster processing times and conversational voice interfaces they enable. With these products, AI takes a dramatic step toward an almost natural interaction between users and systems, and thats critical improving usability and, along with it, effectiveness, adoption and business results.

This isnt so much about AI so much as its about UI. Users are sure to see natural language and more important, spoken natural language as a simpler, flexible and more useful approach to advanced technology. As AI Business wrote, they shift a products focus toward the consumer rather than the loftier goal of developing artificial general intelligence or an AI that thinks like a human.

This is important because usability directly affects business results. The great majority of enterprise software errors 92% are related to users, design or processes, according to research by in question Knoa Software. When users have less to learn about how a UI works, they complete their work more quickly and efficiently while requiring less training and support.

And todays UIs do require a certain amount of knowledge in order to make them do anything. This button prints a document, that button saves work to disk, for example. But the rules governing even simple tasks vary: To close a window, the Macs operating system requires clicking a red dot in a windows top left corner. Windows wants you to click an X in the top right. To capture a screen shot, Mac users enter command-shift-3. Windows users enter WindowsKey-shift-s.

By introducing more sophisticated voice interfaces, AI developers are moving toward an environment where each user can develop their own approach. To resume a paused video, one user might say OK. Keep going, while another says resume play. Some might say set a timer for 45 minutes while others say wake me at 2:45.

When it comes to increasing efficiency, every little bit helps.

Last edition, we asked about brand recognition in AI. Sorry, Google, but OpenAI got the most attention, named by 75% of our readers. The rest said they followed somebody else.

AI: Perception and Reality with Author and Analyst Geoff Webb [Podcast]

Author, industry leader and analyst Geoff Webb discusses AI and how vendors market it, along with reskilling and some of the unexpected challenges that go along with it. [WorkforceAI]

AI and Assessments, With PDRI's Elaine Pulakos [Podcast]

I speak with Elaine Pulakos, the CEO of PDRI by Pearson. She spends a lot of time thinking about AI and its impact on assessments. Theres a lot of questions in the space, covering everything from AIs role in best practices to how it can help develop assessments themselves. We cover that and more. [WorkforceAI]

Why SMBs are Good Prospects for the Right AI Solutions

Large employers get most of the attention, but small businesses present a solid opportunity for solutions providers who are developing AI products. For one thing, SMBs are heavy users of technology. Nearly all of Americas small companies have put at least one technology platform to use. Plus, the market has room for growth. Although they recognize the value of AI, most SMBs have yet to jump in. [WorkforceAI]

HR Departments Believe in AI, But Most Have Yet to Adopt

More than two-thirds of HR professionals have yet to adopt AI, and only a third believe they understand how they could incorporate the technology into their work, according to research by Brightmine. Nearly a quarter of HR departments havent been involved in discussions with executives about the technology and its use. The company says demystification is needed. [WorkforceAI]

Generative AI Leads in Business Adoption

Generative AI is the most frequently deployed AI solution in business, Gartner said, but concerns about measuring and demonstrating its value is a major barrier to adoption. Embedding generative AI into existing applications is the most-often used approach to leveraging the technology, with some 34% of respondents calling it their primary way of using AI. [WorkforceAI]

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Roundup: AI and the Resurrection of Usability - Substack

The Gist

Leading artificial intelligence companies avoid effective oversight because of money and operate without sufficient accountability government or other industry standards, former and current employees said in a letter published today.

In other words, they get away with a lot and that's not great news for a technology that comes with risks including human extinction.

"We are hopeful that these risks can be adequately mitigated with sufficient guidance from the scientific community, policymakers, and the public," the group wrote in the letter titled, "A Right to Warn about Advanced Artificial Intelligence." "However, AI companies have strong financial incentives to avoid effective oversight, and we do not believe bespoke structures of corporate governance are sufficient to change this."

The letter was signed by seven former OpenAI employees, four current OpenAI employees, one former Google DeepMind employee and one current Google DeepMind employee. It was also endorsed by AI powerhousesYoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton and Stuart Russell.

While the group believes in the potential of AI technology to deliver unprecedented benefits to humanity, it says risks include:

"AI companies possess substantial non-public information about the capabilities and limitations of their systems, the adequacy of their protective measures, and the risk levels of different kinds of harm," the group wrote. "However, they currently have only weak obligations to share some of this information with governments, and none with civil society. We do not think they can all be relied upon to share it voluntarily."

The list of employees who shared their names (others were listed anonymously) includes: Jacob Hilton, formerly OpenAI; Daniel Kokotajlo, formerly OpenAI; Ramana Kumar, formerly Google DeepMind; Neel Nanda, currently Google DeepMind formerly Anthropic; William Saunders, formerly OpenAI; Carroll Wainwright, formerly OpenAI; and Daniel Ziegler, formerly OpenAI.

This isn't the first time Hilton spoke publicly about his former company. And he was pretty vocal today on X as well.

Kokotajlo, who worked on OpenAI, quit last month and was vocal about it in a public forum as well. He said he "Quit OpenAI due to losing confidence that it would behave responsibly around the time of AGI (artificial general intelligence)." Saunders, also on the governance team, departed along with Kokotajlo.

Wainright's time at OpenAI dates back at least to the debut of ChatGPT. Ziegler, according to this LinkedIn profile, was with OpenAI from 2018 to 2021.

Related Article: Musk, Wozniak and Thousands of Others: 'Pause Giant AI Experiments'

Leading AI companies won't give up critical information surrounding the development of AI technologies on their own, according to this group. Today, it's up to current and former employees rather than governments that can hold them accountable to the public.

"Yet," the group wrote, "broad confidentiality agreements block us from voicing our concerns, except to the very companies that may be failing to address these issues. Ordinary whistleblower protections are insufficient because they focus on illegal activity, whereas many of the risks we are concerned about are not yet regulated."

These employees fear various forms of retaliation, given the history of such cases across the industry.

Related Article: OpenAI Names Sam Altman CEO 5 Days After It Fired Him

Here's the gist of what this group calls on leading AI companies to do:

AI companies should not:

AI companies should:

OpenAI had no public response to the group's letter. In its most recent tweet, it shared its post about deceptive uses of AI.

"OpenAI is committed to enforcing policies that prevent abuse and to improving transparency around AI-generated content," the company wrote May 30. "That is especially true with respect to detecting and disrupting covert influence operations (IO), which attempt to manipulate public opinion or influence political outcomes without revealing the true identity or intentions of the actors behind them."

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The Dark Side of AI: Financial Gains Lead to Oversight Evasion, Say Insiders - CMSWire

The future of artificial intelligence (AI) promises transformative potential, impacting various domains such as healthcare, transportation, finance, and entertainment. As AI technology evolves rapidly, key trends are emerging and shaping its trajectory.

One significant trend is the rise of artificial general intelligence (AGI), where AI systems develop cognitive abilities similar to humans, enabling them to tackle complex tasks across different domains. AGI has the potential to revolutionize industries and societies, empowering machines with human-like problem-solving capabilities.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents the pinnacle of artificial intelligence, aspiring to create systems that can match or even surpass human capabilities in any intellectual endeavour. Unlike narrow AI, which is specifically designed to excel in a limited set of tasks, AGI aims for true universality, enabling it to tackle a vast range of problems and adapt to diverse situations, much like a human mind.

This ambitious goal requires AGI systems to possess a broad spectrum of cognitive abilities, including the capacity to learn from experience, reason logically, solve complex problems, and even engage in creative thought processes. Achieving this level of intelligence would mark a significant leap forward in AI, transcending the limitations of current systems and opening up a world of possibilities for how we interact with technology.

Another key trend is the integration of AI into everyday devices and systems, leading to the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart environments. AI-powered devices can gather and analyze vast data, enabling autonomous decision-making and enhancing efficiency, convenience, and quality of life. This trend is reshaping our interactions with the physical world, creating a more connected and intelligent environment.

With the increasing prevalence and influence of AI in society, ethical considerations and responsible governance are paramount. Issues like algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency, accountability, and the impact on employment necessitate collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society. Frameworks and guidelines must be established to promote ethical AI use, mitigate risks, and prevent unintended consequences.

The future of AI holds significant technological advancements, including deep learning, reinforcement learning, natural language understanding, and robotics. These advances will enable AI systems to perform complex tasks with enhanced accuracy and efficiency, unlocking new avenues for innovation and discovery. From personalized medicine to predictive maintenance, AI-driven solutions offer the potential to solve pressing challenges and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Predictive maintenance uses data analysis, smart sensors, and computer learning to keep track of how machines are doing. It helps us guess when a machine might break down so we can fix it before it stops working. This prevents unexpected shutdowns and saves us time and money.

However, ethical and societal concerns must remain at the forefront as AI evolves. These advancements require careful consideration to ensure responsible and fair use of AI while mitigating potential risks and unintended consequences. Collaboration and dialogue among various stakeholders are essential to establish ethical guidelines and frameworks that guide the development and deployment of AI, maximizing its benefits for society while safeguarding its integrity and potential for good.

While AI presents numerous opportunities for positive change, it also brings significant challenges. These include concerns about job displacement due to automation, the potential for misuse of AI for malicious purposes, and the need to ensure ethical development and deployment that respects human rights, diversity, and inclusion. Additionally, the concentration of AI power in the hands of a few large tech companies and the potential for AI-driven surveillance and control raise concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

The future of AI holds immense potential for societal transformation and human well-being. However, realizing this potential requires careful consideration of ethical, social, and governance implications. Continued investment in research, education, and cross-disciplinary collaboration is crucial. By harnessing the power of AI responsibly and ethically, we can unlock a future of innovation, creativity, and progress that benefits all of humanity.

Written By: Rana Saman, 4th Year Law Student At Al-Ameen College Of Law

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Analyzing the Future of AI - Legal Service India