Charles warns humanity needs to ‘combat significant risks of powerful AI’
King Charles has issued a chilling warning about artificial intelligence as the AI Safety Summit began today.
He hailed AI as ‘one of the greatest technological leaps in the history of human endeavour’ but warned of the urgent need to work together to combat its ‘significant risks’.
The address was given as delegates from 28 governments descended upon Bletchley Park – the Allied power’s code-breaking centre during World War II – for talks on how to regulate artificial intelligence.
In a video address filmed at Buckingham Palace, King Charles compared the rise of AI to the discovery of electricity, the splitting of the atom, and the creation of the internet.
He said: ‘We are witnessing one of the greatest technological leaps in the history of human endeavour.
‘AI holds the potential to completely transform life as we know it to help us better treat, and perhaps even cure, conditions like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s…
Charles added: ‘However, if we are to realise the untold benefits of AI, then we must work together on combating its significant risks too.
‘Transitions, like the one A.I. is heralding, always present profound challenges; especially in preparing for unintended consequences.’
Earlier today the King might have had less complimentary words about the non-natural world, as he almost stumbled on artificial turf on his tour of Kenya.
Charles said it is imperative to keep AI safe and secure as it rapidly advances.
He stressed: ‘It is incumbent on those with responsibility to meet these challenges: to protect people’s privacy and livelihoods, which are essential to both our economic and psychological well-being, to secure our democracies from harm, and to ensure the benefits of new technology are shared by all.’
He later thanked those attending for laying the foundation for a consensus to ensure ‘this immensely powerful technology is, indeed, a force for good in this world’.
The video address was presented at the Bletchley Park AI Summit, where Alan Turing cracked the enigma code.
Delegates have already agreed on a world-first statement – the ‘Bletchley declaration on AI safety’ – it was announced today.
Signed by China, the US and EU, the joint statement focuses on ‘frontier AI’ – technology with ‘unknown capabilities’.
Tesla and X owner Elon Musk chillingly warned that AI could ‘lead to humanity’s extinction’ while speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast on Tuesday.
He said: ‘If AI gets programmed by the extinctionists, its utility function will be the extinction of humanity… they won’t even think it’s bad.’
US Vice President Kamala Harris also raised concerns about AI safety in a speech given at the US embassy in London.
She stressed that concerns and discussions about the technology have to go beyond ‘existential ‘ fears about cyber attacks and bioweapons.
She asked: ‘When people around the world cannot discern fact from fiction because of a flood of AI-enabled mis- and disinformation, I ask is that not existential for democracy?’
Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a ‘global priority’ – on the same level as pandemics and nuclear war.
He said: ‘Terrorist groups could use AI to spread fear and disruption on an even greater scale.
‘Criminals could exploit AI for cyber attacks, disinformation, fraud or even child sexual abuse.’
The summit at Bletchley Park will conclude tomorrow, with star studded attendees including EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Kamala Harris, Elon Musk (virtually), and leading AI experts from around the globe.
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