Three of the world’s greatest influencers when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, happen to also be some of its greatest critics. You might wonder why that is, but to me, the answer seems glaringly obvious: they know AI better than most and understand the consequences and potential dangers that the technology inhibits.
Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, and the more controversial Elon Musk have all had a part in the development of AI technology. Elon Musk, for example, was one of the co-founders of OpenAi, the company that created ChatGPT – but later pulled out. And for good reasons.
In this article, we’ll delve more into the personality and takes of Bill Gates on AI. We’ll look at his involvement in the development of Artificial Intelligence, as well as his view on the significant dangers that come with it.
Bill Gates: Innovator, AI Skeptic & Massive Hypocrite
Bill Gates is famous for many things, but mostly as the co-founder of Microsoft. Known for his philanthropic work through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as an array of other various projects, he is often regarded as one of the biggest personalities and forefathers of the internet we know today.
Whether you like and agree with Gates or not, there is no hiding that he has played a significant part in artificial intelligence and its development. For the most part, he has been a fairly strong advocate for the progression of AI technology – but he is also one of its greatest critics and has expressed significant concerns when it comes to the dangers of AI.
Gates’ main concern is AI’s ability to outsmart humans. To put it simply, Gates values the effectiveness and possibilities that artificial intelligence has on automating jobs for people right now (of course he does, he is one of the billionaires benefiting off of not having to pay people salaries but just automating an AI to do everything for them).
However, he expresses great concern about the dangers of what happens when the data set becomes big enough for AI to become a little too smart. In this 2015 Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, Gates said: “I am in the camp that is concerned about artificial intelligence… it could be positive if we manage it well. A few decades after, the intelligence is strong enough to be a concern.”
At first, this not might seem like a huge deal. A billionaire celebrity making vague statements about the potential of one thing or another, but when you take into account that Bill Gates’ Microsoft has pumped billions of dollars into OpenAI and ChatGPT – his words suddenly become a little more concerning.
Gates seems well-educated on the true dangers of AI. In a 2018 Verge interview, he emphasizes the incredible importance of creating AI tools in a way that empowers people, not replace them.
But Mr. Gates, it is replacing people. In fact, by 2030 between 400-800 million people are going to lose their jobs as a result of Artificial Intelligence. Real hard-working people who rely on these jobs to feed their families are being stripped of their livelihood so that billionaires like him can benefit.
It seems that reality is going in the direction that Gates originally feared. Scientists, businessmen, CEO, and the average user has become so infatuated with the idea of money, automation, and the wonder of technology that they no longer care about the almost billion people that are going to be negatively affected. Not to mention the potential for wars, terror, and disruptions to our democracy.
What is more is the blatant disregard for people’s privacy. AI technology has over the years taken over more and more of people’s data and information, to help make these billionaires, such as Bill Gates and his colleagues, even richer.
Reality is that personal privacy is being stripped away from all citizens of the western world. It is one of the most dangerous aspects of AI, yet nothing seems to be done about it. Learn how you can be aware of AI’s invasion of your privacy in our article: “The Modern-Day Plague – 5 Ways AI Is Invading Your Privacy Right Now“
Yes, there seems to be some serious discrepancy between what Bill Gates says, and what he does. In a 2018 Axios interview, he says: “I think it’s important to be worried about AI. I agree with Elon Musk and some others on this and don’t understand why some people are not concerned.” — but today he seems more infatuated with ChatGPT than ever before.
The hypocrisy of the elite is nothing new, but politics aside – we see that even a man as influential and powerful as Bill Gates, a man that benefits wildly from AI, has great concerns about technology. If he is worried, we should be significantly more worried. And there is no hiding that.
Bill Gates on AI: A Threat to Humanity
It is clear that Bill Gates is well aware of the dangers and AI, and does not hide the consequences we are going to face in the future. Even after a very big dose of sugar coating, we can see in countless interviews that there is a significant cause for concern even among those who benefit wildly off of Artificial Intelligence.
It seems like AI is related to the elite and average consumer very much like a siren from the old sea tales. A beautiful, infatuating, and powerful creature – but once we get too close, and allow the siren to get to us – our ship sinks, and before we realize what has happened, it is too late.
Be aware of AI, and the threats it imposes on not just the internet, but every single consumer. We all have a duty to ensure that we see the siren for what it is and steer our ship clear. Only then will humanity arrive safely to shore.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
