Pause AI Trainings Beyond GPT-4: What It Means and Why It Matters
A call on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.
A recently published open letter, endorsed by prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and Emad Mostaque, urges an immediate halt in the advancement of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.
The letter demands all AI labs to put a six-month pause on the development of AI systems exceeding GPT-4's capabilities.
Why?
The primary concern is the possibility of AI systems becoming overly powerful too rapidly, resulting in unforeseen and potentially catastrophic consequences.
In under 20 hours, over 1,300 individuals pledged their support for this action.
In this article, I will explore the letter's content, and the research behind it, and offer my insights on the subject.
The Context
The letter describes a scenario where AI labs are caught up in a reckless race to create and deploy increasingly powerful digital minds that cannot be comprehended, anticipated, or reliably controlled by anyone, including their creators.
The letter suggests that we must consider questions such as whether we should automate all jobs, even fulfilling ones, and whether we should risk relinquishing control of our civilization as nonhuman minds are on track to eventually outnumber, outwit, and supplant us.
The Main Points
The main request of the open letter is for AI labs such as OpenAI to pause for at least six months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.
If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium.
The letter calls for a collaborative effort between AI developers and policymakers to accelerate the development of robust AI governance systems to cope with the disruptive effects that AI may cause in the future.
The letter also calls for “AI summer” which refers to a period of time in which society can enjoy the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) without rushing into the development and deployment of more powerful AI systems before ensuring that their risks can be managed.
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, wrote in his blog that although many people think superhuman machine intelligence would be extremely dangerous if developed, he disagrees.
Many people seem to believe that SMI would be very dangerous if it were developed, but think that it’s either never going to happen or definitely very far off. This is sloppy, dangerous thinking. — Sam Altman
Final Thoughts
Despite progress in comprehending and aligning AI systems with human values, the issue's urgency is undeniable.
The letter, whether you agree or disagree with it, highlights the need for further action to ensure the responsible development and implementation of AI technologies.
It's not just GPT-4 that's under scrutiny. AI image generators like MidJourney made headlines for their ability to produce ultra-realistic images, leading to a new form of “deep faking.”
As AI progresses, it is essential for researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to collaborate and address the ethical and safety concerns related to powerful AI systems.
The appropriateness of a pause in development remains a subject of discussion, but the conversation around the potential risks and consequences of AI has never been more critical.
What about you? Do you support pausing AI experiments beyond GPT-4?