🤖 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rocking our world, but is it all sunshine and rainbows? Top scientists at the 2024 World Laureates Forum in Shanghai think it's time to hit pause and reflect on AI's potential downsides.
Christopher Pissarides, the 2010 Nobel Prize winner in economics and a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, dropped some truth bombs on Friday. Speaking on \"AI at Work,\" he said, \"Many choices in AI development are not on the right track of 'improving human well-being'.\"
He pointed out that in today's fast-changing job market, roles are shifting faster than ever. \"In the era of AI, jobs will be created and disappear daily,\" Pissarides noted. \"Employees should pay more attention to the skills needed to stand firm in a world full of AI.\"
Pissarides also warned that while traditional AI relies on data, generative AI can make decisions and might even threaten professional jobs. \"Many industries need to rethink their recruitment and training processes,\" he added.
Echoing these concerns, Jon Kleinberg, a 2024 World Laureates Association Prize winner and a professor of computer science at Cornell University, spoke about potential biases and cultural homogenization stemming from AI during his speech at Fudan University. \"Algorithms may not have inherent biases, but they can reflect the biases present in the data they are trained on,\" he said.
🧐 \"Even if there's a ton of data, it can't always capture the whole truth,\" Kleinberg emphasized. He warned that if everyone uses the same algorithms for decision-making, we risk losing diversity in cultures and perspectives.
Gong Ke, executive dean of the Chinese Academy of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies, chimed in at the forum, saying, \"Artificial intelligence didn't bring threats as soon as it was born. Instead, threats are accompanied by opportunities.\" He stressed that developing AI requires three key \"companions\": safety, reliability, and trustworthiness.
The 2024 World Laureates Forum continues until October 27, with dozens of forums planned. It's clear that while AI offers incredible possibilities, we need to stay woke to its challenges and ensure it's a tool that benefits everyone. 🌟
Reference(s):
AI's double-edged sword: Top scientists sound alarm at 2024 WLA Forum
cgtn.com
