Superintelligent AI: Americans Voice Their Concerns and Skepticism
Major AI corporations are fervently working towards the development of superintelligent AI, which they claim is for the collective benefit of humanity. However, a recent poll suggests that many Americans might not be on board with this vision. The poll, commissioned by the AI Policy Institute and executed by YouGov, surveyed 1,118 Americans and found that 63% believe regulations should actively prevent the emergence of AI superintelligence.
Companies like OpenAI are actively pursuing the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), a form of AI that surpasses human intelligence. While these companies view AGI as a boon for humanity, its inherent risks, including potential existential threats, are causing concern among the public. The poll indicates a disconnect between the tech industry’s ambitions and the public’s apprehensions. For instance, while tech leaders argue that developing AGI could help the US maintain a competitive edge over countries like China, 67% of the polled voters believe that we should limit the power of AI models, even if it means falling behind on the global stage.
The poll also highlights a broader issue: the democratic deficit in technological development. As AI companies make decisions that could reshape society, there’s a growing sentiment that these choices should not be made unilaterally. The story of AGI is not just a technological endeavor but a profoundly political one, requiring broader societal input and oversight.
Daniel Colson, the executive director of the AI Policy Institute, emphasized the disparity between elite discourse and the desires of the American public. He stressed the undemocratic nature of major tech decisions behind closed doors, without public participation or transparency.
The article concludes by raising important questions about the ethics of “permissionless invention” and the need for democratic deliberation in developing and deploying transformative technologies.
The article is “AI that’s smarter than humans? Americans say a firm “no thank you.”