Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman Warns Against the Illusion of Conscious AI: “Build AI for People, Not to Be a Person”

Highlights


00:03 — Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has
published a blog post that criticizes the notion of seemingly
conscious AI. He argues that the pursuit of this idea,
particularly regarding AI model welfare, is misguided.


00:19 — Suleyman explains that these concepts
are already causing mental health issues among users. He is
growing: “more and more concerned about what is becoming known as
the psychosis risk and a bunch of related issues. I don’t think
this will be limited to those who are already at risk of mental
health issues.”


00:56 — Suleyman argues that we should “build AI
for people not to be a person.” He is adamant in his neglect of
this previous approach, saying that: “The arrival of seemingly
conscious AI is inevitable and unwelcome. Instead, we need a
vision for AI that can fulfill its potential as a helpful
companion without falling prey to its illusions.”


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01:18 — Meanwhile, companies like Anthropic,
OpenAI, and Google DeepMind are actively pursuing AI
consciousness or welfare research. Now, while there are
complications and not everyone is on the same page, here, it is
clear that the evolving scenarios and possibilities presented by
AI are increasingly reaching into the realm of the surreal and in
some cases, they’re fantastical.


01:42 — This is largely because, for the first
time in human history, we have a tool that is evolving at a pace
beyond which we can conceive. While some of these ideas may sound
far-fetched, the warnings accompanying them are serious based on
real concerns coming from leaders in the AI space, the ones
leading this new AI revolution.


02:04 — What everyone must do, and though it
will be challenging, is to start imagining the unimaginable. Once
you accept the vast possibilities of AI, both good and bad, you
can begin to take the warnings that come with them seriously.


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