Elon Musk and the Call to Halt Artificial Intelligence

Following the recent advancements in artificial intelligence, Elon Musk has decided to share his personal opinion on the matter with all the major hi-tech players. He did so through a letter urging everyone to stop experimenting with AI before it’s too late.

The Release of Chat GPT-4

It was indeed the recent release of Chat GPT-4 and all the commotion that arose around the web phenomenon that pushed Elon Musk and some other hi-tech giants to sign a petition calling for a halt to experimentation on artificial intelligence.

Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence system that has become the phenomenon of the moment. Not only that, its potential is truly exceptional, and its learning capacity is astonishing.

This worries many people. All those who believe that the improper development of artificial intelligence poses a serious threat to the future of humanity. This concern has undoubtedly increased after Chat GPT was partially launched on the web with its latest update.

An Open Letter to Halt Artificial Intelligence

The letter explains the risks of continuing down this path and how artificial intelligence is developing too quickly.

This is not a call for a permanent halt, but rather a temporary one. Elon Musk and other industry leaders know full well that it is impossible to stop technological progress. However, what they are asking for is a temporary pause.

Artificial intelligence experimentation must be temporarily halted, at least until effective rules for its protocols are available.

The Call to Halt AI Has Over 1,000 Signatures

Elon Musk’s signature is just one of the more than 1,000 signatures on the open letter to all the industry giants. Many other notable signatures accompany the billionaire’s.

Among them is Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.

Among the thousand signatures is also one from an Italian. It’s Domenico Tallia, a professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Calabria, who writes: “We know that innovation cannot be stopped, but this is an exceptional case.

What these technologies are capable of is not even clear to those who create them. Everything is happening too quickly. In a few months, a Chat GPT-5 might be ready, even more powerful.

These technologies are destined to change everything. They will change the work of millions of people, especially intellectual work.”

A Six-Month Halt

The letter calls for a temporary halt of at least six months. This time must be wisely used to create protocols capable of regulating artificial intelligences and making them safe and harmless for humans.

In the coming months, all companies and governments must commit to developing safety protocols, AI governance systems, and reorganizing research to ensure that artificial intelligence systems are secure, accurate, reliable, and fair.

“We call on all artificial intelligence laboratories to immediately suspend for at least six months the development of artificial intelligence systems more powerful than Chat GPT-4.

These artificial intelligence systems can pose serious risks to society and humanity.

Powerful artificial intelligence systems should only be developed when we are sure that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable,” the letter reads.

It is not just companies that need to take action, but all governments as well. There is a need for government authorities to monitor and regulate artificial intelligence systems. Institutions must be capable of handling the “dramatic economic and political upheavals that AI will cause.”

Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, the developer of Chat GPT, admits to being somewhat frightened by his own creation. “Society needs time to adapt. In recent months, artificial intelligence labs have become locked in an uncontrolled race to develop and implement ever more powerful digital brains that no one, not even their creators, can understand, predict, or reliably control.”

This post is also available in: Italiano