'Careless use of AI is the real threat - not the ghost stories'
Meredith Whittaker says the tech has been misunderstood, in an exclusive interview with BBC Global Women.
Meredith Whittaker, the boss of Signal Foundation, is not swayed by the fearsome tales surrounding artificial intelligence. She dismisses the idea that AI could turn against humanity, claiming there is no scientific backing for such a notion. Instead, Whittaker highlights the more immediate danger: the careless use of AI technology.
She cites a recent incident where a chatbot used by US intelligence fabricated information about a Chinese vessel carrying nuclear material. This led the US to prepare for a military response, almost resulting in a war with China. Whittaker asserts that a system capable of producing faulty intelligence, almost leading to war, should not be deemed super-intelligent by any measure.
Signal, an encrypted messaging app with an estimated 40-70 million users, is renowned for its strong stance on user privacy. Whittaker, who once worked at Google, played a crucial role in stopping the company's involvement in a secret AI project with the US Department of Defense. She argues that Google's rush to introduce new technology without adequate caution led to the AI system's failure in this case.
Whittaker emphasizes that governments, including the UK's, are pushing for more access to conversations on messaging apps, arguing it's necessary to protect women and children. However, she warns that such measures could be easily circumvented by children, leading to an unprecedented regime of communication and information controls.
Whittaker firmly states that Signal would leave any country that forces it to weaken its encryption, regardless of the political climate or pressure.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.