Over 1,300 Experts Declare AI a Transformative Force

An open letter signed by over 1,300 experts declares that AI is a "force for good, not a danger to mankind." 

Organized by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, the letter aims to counter "AI doom" narratives.

Rashik Parmar, BCS president, said the letter shows that the UK technology community does not believe in the "nightmare scenario of rogue robotic overlords."

In March, tech leaders including Elon Musk, who recently launched an AI company, signed a letter calling for a pause in developing powerful AI systems. That letter suggested that super-intelligent AI posed an "existential threat" to humanity, a view echoed by film director Christopher Nolan, who likened it to an "Oppenheimer moment." J. Robert Oppenheimer played a crucial role in developing the first atomic bomb, the subject of Nolan's latest film.

The BCS sees the situation more positively, while still supporting the need for AI regulations.

Richard Carter, a signatory to the BCS letter and founder of an AI-powered cybersecurity startup, believes the dire warnings are unrealistic: "Honestly, the idea that AI is an existential threat to humanity is far-fetched. We're not in any position where that's even possible."

The BCS letter is signed by professionals from various backgrounds—business, academia, public bodies, and think tanks—though none are as well-known as Elon Musk or run major AI firms like OpenAI.

Those interviewed by the BCS emphasize the positive applications of AI. Hema Purohit, who leads digital health and social care for the BCS, said the technology is enabling new ways to detect serious illnesses, such as systems that identify signs of conditions like heart disease or diabetes during an eye exam. She also noted that AI could speed up the testing of new drugs.

Signatory Sarah Burnett, author of a book on AI and business, highlighted agricultural uses of AI, from robots that use artificial intelligence to pollinate plants to those that "identify weeds and spray or zap them with lasers, instead of spraying entire fields with herbicide

The letter suggests, "The UK can help lead the way in establishing professional and technical standards in AI roles, supported by a robust code of conduct, global collaboration, and fully resourced regulation." By doing so, it claims Britain "can become a global byword for high-quality, ethical, inclusive AI."

In the fall, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will host a global summit on AI regulation.

While the BCS may argue that existential threats are science fiction, some concerns are on the horizon or are already presenting challenges. It's predicted that up to 300 million jobs could be automated, and some companies have already said they will stop hiring for certain roles due to AI. However, Mr. Carter thinks AI—rather than replacing people—will enhance their efficiency. In his work, he finds ChatGPT useful but remains cautious about over-reliance, comparing it to a "very knowledgeable and very impatient 12-year-old." He argues that humans will always need to be involved in the workplace to take responsibility if things go wrong: "If you take the human entirely out of the loop, how do you manage responsibility for some sort of catastrophic event occurring?"

Like other signatories, he believes regulation is needed to prevent the misuse of AI. Ms. Purohit says her motivation for signing was the need for policies to "ensure that we don't just create lots and lots of things without focusing on responsible usage."

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