Is artificial intelligence (AI) now the new electricity?

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has likened artificial intelligence (AI) to electricity, stating that denying AI development in a country would be as foolish as rejecting electricity's growth 100 years ago. Speaking at the G20's Innovation Ministerial in North Carolina, Altman urged that AI regulation is "non-negotiable." He has compared the resources needed to train AI to raising a human, emphasizing the significant energy inputs required to develop AI from its inception to a useful state.

While Altman didn't directly state that AI could become as problematic as adults requiring breaks, food, and sleep, this comparison has stuck with the reporter, who wished Altman to be wrong. However, reflecting on Altman's electricity analogy, the reporter believes AI may indeed be the new electricity. This comparison implies that AI, much like electricity, will require strict regulations and safety protocols to mitigate potential hazards and ensure responsible usage.

The reporter points out that electricity already comes with a comprehensive set of regulations covering its generation, installation, and usage, all aimed at reducing the hazardous potential associated with power generation. These regulations include preventing children from accessing electrical outlets, the presence of electricians to ensure safe installations, and the necessity of electrical compliance certificates when selling a house.

Additionally, regulations dictate where plugs can't be placed, the need to overload power points, and the importance of turning off the main power when issues arise.

Some might argue that AI poses less danger than electricity, and while that's true, the reporter sees a parallel in the need for regulation to manage risks. Electricity regulations began due to the hazardous nature of power generation and usage, leading to measures like circuit breakers and the prohibition of unsafe practices. Similarly, AI requires regulation to ensure it doesn't cause harm, much like how we now understand the environmental impact of our energy consumption and the need for cleaner alternatives.

The G20, in its Carolina Principle for Emerging Technologies, agreed to review and adapt regulatory approaches as necessary when existing regulations no longer suit deployed technologies. However, the reporter fears that this approach may leave AI without adequate oversight, as the live wire dangling closer to the swimming pool suggests.

Despite the potential risks, the reporter believes it's time to dive in, acknowledging that the water is divine and that strict regulation is vital to harness AI's potential while minimizing its hazards.