20-6-2024 (NEW YORK)Â Elon Musk, the billionaire visionary behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has warned of a potential “existential crisis” for humanity as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance at an unprecedented pace. Speaking at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Musk candidly acknowledged the possibility that AI could eventually wipe out all of humanity, assigning a chilling 10 to 20% chance of such a catastrophic outcome.
Musk’s comments, delivered to a captivated audience, carried significant weight given his deep involvement in the AI realm. The tech mogul, who has frequently voiced concerns about the potential risks posed by advanced AI systems, drew upon the expertise of Geoff Hinton, one of the pioneering figures in the field, to underscore the gravity of the situation.
“I tend to agree with Geoff Hinton – one of the godfathers of AI – and he thinks there’s a 10-20% probability of something terrible happening,” Musk cautioned, leaving the audience to ponder the implications of such a dire scenario.
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While Musk refrained from elaborating on the specifics of what he meant by “terrible,” he urged his listeners to maintain a positive outlook, noting, “The glass is 80% full. Look on the bright side.” He painted a picture of a future where goods and services are abundant, and work becomes optional, describing it as a “universal hike.”
However, this utopian vision was not without its own set of challenges. Musk warned that the rise of AI could lead to a “crisis of meaning” for humanity. “If AI can do everything you can do but better, what’s the point of doing things? I think there will be an existential crisis,” he cautioned, highlighting the existential dilemma that could arise as AI systems surpass human capabilities across various domains.
In a startling revelation, Musk admitted that if the worst-case scenario were to unfold and AI did indeed annihilate humanity, he would “probably” want to bear witness to the devastation as it unfolded. He characterized the current era as “the most interesting time in history” and encouraged his audience to “enjoy the ride,” a sentiment that underscored the unprecedented nature of the technological revolution underway.
Musk’s dire warnings are not without precedent. As AI and robotics continue to advance, concerns have been raised about the potential displacement of human workers across various industries. Professions once considered secure, such as lawyers, doctors, and teachers, could be vulnerable to replacement by advanced AI systems, while humanoid robots could supplant factory workers, according to reports.
Ironically, Musk himself is championing the development of AI through his involvement in projects like Optimus, a humanoid robot being developed by Tesla that could potentially take on manual roles. This duality highlights the complex nature of the AI debate, where the promise of technological advancement is intertwined with existential risks.
