Forget robots: The real AI threat is already here
Expert warns AI poses real danger to humanity, as OpenAI and Anthropic signal it is time to slow down and set boundaries before it is too late.
Artificial intelligence poses a genuine threat to humanity, warn experts in the field, according to Prof. Shmuel Itzkowitz, founder of the Faculty of Computer Science at the College of Management. The danger is not in the development of AI itself but in ensuring the technology serves humanity rather than determining human fate without accountability.
Prof. Itzkowitz emphasizes that AI is changing human learning, work, and decision-making. It has the potential to improve medical diagnosis, make knowledge accessible, and streamline public services. However, AI's reliance on data and pattern prediction does not guarantee correct or fair outcomes. The real issue is flawed decisions that may appear objective but are not.
The risk lies in flawed decisions that appear objective, as AI learns from historical data. If this data contains discrimination, errors, or biases, AI systems are likely to replicate these distortions in decision-making for credit, employment, welfare, or legal matters. Additionally, false information, in the form of convincing texts, images, and voices, can lead to impersonation, fraud, and manipulation of public discourse.
Recent developments have heightened these concerns. OpenAI and Anthropic have called for slowing or stopping AI development when safety cannot be guaranteed. OpenAI announced support for binding requirements for independent safety testing, while Anthropic reported disruptions from malicious uses of its models, ranging from cyber and fraud to surveillance.
Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring AI remains a beneficial tool for humanity does not solely rest on engineers. Governments must establish enforceable rules, educational institutions should promote digital literacy, and companies must prioritize safety, even if it delays the rollout of new technologies.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post Tech & Start-Ups's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
