Big Tech companies are using lies about the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) to suppress competition, according to Andrew Ng, a leading AI expert and co-founder of Google Brain. Ng stated in an interview with The Australian Financial Review that tech giants are hoping to trigger strict regulation by promoting the “bad idea that AI could make us go extinct.” He believes that some large tech firms prefer not to compete with open-source AI and are using fear of AI leading to human extinction as a weapon to advocate for legislation that would harm the open-source community.
Ng’s comments come after a statement signed by AI experts and CEOs, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, compared the risks of AI to nuclear war and pandemics. Many AI leaders, including Ng, have expressed concerns about the rapid development of advanced generative AI models and have called for swift regulatory action.
Governments worldwide are considering AI regulation due to concerns about safety, potential job losses, and the risk of human extinction. The European Union is expected to be the first region to implement oversight or regulation specifically addressing generative AI.
While Ng acknowledges the need for thoughtful AI regulation, he warns that the idea of AI wiping out humanity could lead to policy proposals that stifle innovation by requiring AI licensing. It is crucial, he argues, to strike a balance between regulation and fostering innovation.
Ng has not yet responded to Insider’s request for comment on the matter.
