# Elon Musk and others urge AI pause, citing ‘risks to society’ Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-03-29 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: Experts Call for Six-Month Pause in Advanced AI Development Meta Description: Elon Musk, along with AI experts, urges a halt in developing more powerful systems than GPT-4 due to potential risks to society. OpenAI urged to focus on URL: https://financedigest.com/elon-musk-and-others-urge-ai-pause-citing-risks-to-societyhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-03-29t125238z5lynxmpej2s03rrtroptp4tesla-masterplan-musk-ai-1736814230088-compressed.jpg) By Jyoti Narayan, Krystal Hu, Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee (Reuters) -Elon Musk and a group of artificial intelligence experts and industry executives are calling for a six-month pause in developing systems more powerful than OpenAI’s newly launched GPT-4, in an open letter citing potential risks to society and humanity. Earlier this month, Microsoft-backed OpenAI unveiled the fourth iteration of its GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) AI program, which has wowed users with its vast range of applications, from engaging users in human-like conversation to composing songs and summarising lengthy documents. The letter, issued by the non-profit Future of [Life Institute and signed by more than 1,000 people](https://www.financedigest.com/life-post-brexit-people-must-take-precedent.html "Life post Brexit – people must take precedent") including Musk, called for a pause on advanced AI development until shared safety protocols for such designs were developed, implemented and audited by independent experts. Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their [risks will be manageable,”](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-launches-new-catastrophe-model-to-manage-the-risk-of-icelands-most-disastrous-peril-earthquake.html "Aon launches new catastrophe model to manage the risk of Iceland’s most disastrous peril: Earthquake") the letter said. OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The letter detailed potential risks to society and civilization by human-competitive AI systems in the form of [economic and political](https://www.financedigest.com/uae-plans-long-term-economic-ties-with-israel-despite-political-strains.html "UAE plans long-term economic ties with Israel despite political strains") disruptions, and called on developers to work with policymakers on governance and regulatory authorities. Co-signatories included Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque, researchers at Alphabet-owned DeepMind, and AI heavyweights Yoshua Bengio, often referred to as one of the “godfathers of AI”, and Stuart Russell, a pioneer of research in the field. According to the European Union’s transparency register, the Future of Life Institute is primarily funded by the Musk Foundation, as well as London-based effective altruism group Founders Pledge, and [Silicon Valley](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-u-s-regulator-seeks-sale-of-silicon-valley-bank-signature-bank-portfolios-sources.html "Exclusive-U.S. regulator seeks sale of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank portfolios-sources") Community Foundation. The concerns [come as EU police force](https://www.financedigest.com/the-glorious-twelfth-what-underwriters-should-be-doing-as-the-insurance-act-comes-into-force.html "The Glorious Twelfth: What Underwriters Should Be Doing As the Insurance Act Comes Into Force") Europol on Monday joined a chorus of ethical and legal concerns over advanced AI like ChatGPT, warning about the potential misuse of the system in phishing attempts, disinformation and cybercrime. Meanwhile, the UK [government unveiled proposals](https://www.financedigest.com/carrefour-unveils-30-euro-shopping-basket-in-spain-after-government-price-cut-proposal.html "Carrefour unveils 30 euro shopping basket in Spain after government price cut proposal") for an “adaptable” regulatory framework around AI. The government’s approach, outlined in a policy paper published on Wednesday, would split responsibility for governing [artificial intelligence](https://www.financedigest.com/types-of-artificial-intelligence.html "Types of artificial intelligence") (AI) between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than create a new body dedicated to the technology. TRANSPARENCY Musk, whose carmaker Tesla is using AI for an autopilot system, has been vocal about his concerns about AI. Since its release last year, [OpenAI’s ChatGPT has prompted rivals to accelerate developing](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-better-than-openai-developers-shop-for-alternatives.html "What’s better than OpenAI? Developers shop for alternatives") similar large language models, and companies to integrate generative AI models into their products. Last week, OpenAI announced it had partnered with around a [dozen firms](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-dozen-chinese-based-firms-say-they-have-minimal-exposure-to-svb.html "Over a dozen Chinese-based firms say they have minimal exposure to SVB") to build their services into its chatbot, allowing ChatGPT users to order groceries via Instacart, or book flights through Expedia. Sam Altman, [chief executive](https://www.financedigest.com/exotix-draws-sberbanks-us-chief-executive-in-triple-hire-to-extend-global-capabilities.html "Exotix Draws Sberbank’s US Chief Executive in Triple Hire to Extend Global Capabilities") at OpenAI hasn’t signed the letter, a spokesperson at Future of Life told Reuters. The letter isn’t perfect, but the spirit is right: we [need to slow down until we better understand](https://www.financedigest.com/for-the-technology-of-2018-banks-need-to-understand-the-technology-of-their-past.html "For the technology of 2018, banks need to understand the technology of their past") the ramifications,” said Gary Marcus, a professor at New York University who signed the letter. “The big players are becoming increasingly secretive about what they are doing, which makes it hard for society to defend against whatever harms may materialize.” Critics accused the letter’s signatories of promoting “AI hype”, arguing that claims around the technology’s current potential had been greatly exaggerated. These kinds of [statements are meant to raise](https://www.financedigest.com/deployed-raises-4m-to-redefine-how-statements-of-work-are-created-and-projects-are-planned.html "Deployed raises M to redefine how Statements Of Work are created and projects are planned") hype. It’s meant to get [people worried,”](https://www.financedigest.com/the-start-up-using-technology-to-help-the-20-million-people-in-britain-with-money-worries.html "The start-up using technology to help the 20 million people in Britain with money worries") Johanna Björklund, an AI researcher and associate professor at Umeå University. I don’t [think there’s a need to pull](https://www.financedigest.com/the-pull-of-the-past-1-in-5-keep-items-they-think-will-be-valuable-in-the-future.html "The pull of the past! 1 in 5 keep items they think will be valuable in the future") the handbrake. Rather than pause research, she said, AI [researchers should be subjected to greater transparency](https://www.financedigest.com/d-mannose-market-opportunities-trends-drivers-challenges-forecast-by-2025-transparency-market-research.html "D-Mannose Market Opportunities, Trends, Drivers, Challenges & Forecast By 2025: Transparency Market Research") requirements. “If you do AI research, you should be very transparent about how you do it.” (Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru, Krystal Hu in New York, Martin Coulter in London, and Supantha Mukhurjee in Stockholm. Editing by Gerry Doyle and Elaine Hardcastle) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---