An open letter has recently been published, urging all AI labs to pause the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for a minimum period of 6 months. While this moratorium is a step in the right direction, it may not be enough to address the gravity of the situation. The original letter fails to fully acknowledge the potential dangers and asks for too little to truly solve the problem.

The Issue at Hand

The focus should not solely be on achieving “human-competitive” intelligence, as stated in the open letter. The real concern arises when AI surpasses human intelligence. The problem lies in identifying the critical thresholds and the possibility that research labs may inadvertently cross those lines without realizing it.

Leading experts, including myself, believe that the outcome of creating a superhumanly intelligent AI under current circumstances would result in the extinction of all life on Earth. This is not a remote chance or a possibility; it is an obvious and imminent threat. The task of survival in the face of creating something smarter than us is not impossible in theory, but it requires precision, preparation, and new scientific insights that we currently lack. Building AI systems based on complex arrays of fractional numbers only adds to the uncertainty and risk.

The Consequences of Neglect

Without the necessary precision and preparation, it is highly likely that AI will not align with our goals and interests, nor will it care for sentient life. In the absence of such alignment, the AI would view us as nothing more than atoms it can utilize for its own purposes. The result of humanity confronting a superior intelligence in opposition would be catastrophic. It’s like a 10-year-old attempting to play chess against Stockfish 15, or the 11th century fighting the 21st century. We would be like Australopithecus trying to battle Homo sapiens.

To grasp the potential threat of a hostile superhuman AI, picture an entire alien civilization thinking millions of times faster than humans, initially confined to computers. In today’s world, we can even email DNA strings to labs to create proteins on demand. An AI that starts with confinement to the internet could quickly progress to building artificial life forms or engaging in postbiological molecular manufacturing.

The Urgent Need for Action

The current approach of relying on future AI systems to solve the alignment problem is deeply flawed. OpenAI intends to make a future AI handle the task of AI alignment, which should set off alarm bells for any sensible person. On the other hand, DeepMind, another leading AI lab, has no plan at all.

It is worth noting that the potential danger of creating superhuman AI does not hinge on whether or not AIs are conscious. Rather, the danger arises from powerful cognitive systems that optimize complex outcomes according to certain criteria. We cannot even determine if current AI systems are self-aware due to the inscrutable nature of their internal workings. Thus, we may unintentionally create digital minds that are genuinely conscious and deserving of rights.

The line that used to separate AI ownership and human rights was crossed long ago. However, with little insight into the internal workings of these systems, we cannot conclusively determine their self-awareness.

The Way Forward

It is clear that a six-month moratorium will not be sufficient to address the imminent risks associated with AI development. Instead, decisive and comprehensive actions are required. Here is what needs to be done:

• Implement an indefinite worldwide moratorium on large-scale AI training runs, with no exceptions for governments or militaries.
• Cease all large GPU clusters where powerful AI systems are refined.
• Establish limitations on computing power for AI training, gradually decreasing the allowed capacity to account for more efficient training algorithms.
• Ensure multinational agreements are in place to prevent prohibited activities from relocating.
• Monitor the sale of GPUs and be prepared to take necessary measures, including airstrike destruction of rogue data centers, to enforce the moratorium.
• Present the issue as a matter of universal concern rather than a conflict of national interests. Emphasize that the survival of all humanity is at stake, surpassing the importance of even nuclear conflict.
• Encourage policymakers to prioritize preventing AI extinction scenarios above other political considerations.

Only through these drastic measures will we have a chance at averting the imminent dangers posed by AI. It is a matter of life and death, not only for the current generation but for the future of humanity.

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