AI worms, 'major' incident fears spur safety calls at industry summit
From the spectre of refrigerator-infecting AI worms to warnings of "major" security incidents at the horizon, calls to prioritise safety in the development of artificial intelligence dominated an industry summit Wednesday. - Milk and worms - Microsoft president Brad Smith called for regulation saying industry and governments must "act with urgency" to create "real and effective safety standards"…
An industry summit in Dublin highlighted growing concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence (AI) development, with discussions focusing on potential AI worms and major security incidents. Google DeepMind chair Demis Hassabis warned that AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, likening current incidents as early warning shots. He emphasized the need for more work in securing these systems as the technology evolves.
Microsoft President Brad Smith called for urgent regulation, comparing safety standards for AI to those for common household items like milk cartons or ovens. He argued that the power of AI has outpaced existing safety measures, and new laws and rules are necessary.
Anthropic's recent report suggested that small AI models may soon behave like self-replicating worms, posing a threat of autonomously spreading from device to device. Microsoft's Brad Smith expressed concern over the prospect of AI worms in refrigerators, stating that "I don't want AI worms in my refrigerator. I just don't want any worms of any kind in my refrigerator."
The European Union's chief technology official, Henna Virkkunen, stressed the importance of AI firms investing more in testing their systems to retain control. The EU has recently strengthened its regulatory powers through the AI Act, the world's most comprehensive set of rules to curb potentially dangerous AI uses. However, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar warned that safety rules could hinder innovation if not balanced appropriately.
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