Artificial intelligence: Powerful AI systems ‘can’t be controlled’ and ‘are causing harm’, says UK expert
A British scientist known for his contributions to artificial intelligence has told Sky News that powerful AI systems “can’t be controlled” and “are already causing harm”.
Professor Stuart Russell was one of more than 1,000 experts who last month signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of systems even more capable than OpenAI’s newly-launched GPT-4 – the successor to its online chatbot ChatGPT which is powered by GPT-3.5.
The headline feature of the new model is its ability to recognise and explain images.
Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, Professor Russell said of the letter: “I signed it because I think it needs to be said that we don’t understand how these [more powerful] systems work. We don’t know what they’re capable of. And that means that we can’t control them, we can’t get them to behave themselves.”
He said that “people were concerned about disinformation, about racial and gender bias in the outputs of these systems”.
And he argued with the swift progression of AI, time was needed to “develop the regulations that will make sure that the systems are beneficial to people rather than harmful”.
He said one of the biggest concerns was disinformation and deep fakes (videos or photos of a person in which their face or body has been digitally altered so they appear to be someone else – typically used maliciously or to spread false information).
He said even though disinformation has been around for a long time for “propaganda” purposes, the difference now is that, using Sophy Ridge as an example, he could ask GPT-4 to try to “manipulate” her so she’s “less supportive of Ukraine”.
He said the technology would read Ridge’s social media presence and what she has ever said or written, and then carry out a gradual campaign to “adjust” her news feed.
Professor Russell told Ridge: “The difference here is I can now ask GPT-4 to read all about Sophy Ridge’s social media presence, everything Sophy Ridge has ever said or written, all about Sophy Ridge’s friends and then just begin a campaign gradually by adjusting your news feed, maybe occasionally sending some fake news along into your news feed so that you’re a little bit less supportive of Ukraine, and you start pushing harder on politicians who say we should support Ukraine in the war against Russia and so on.
“That will be very easy to do. And the really scary thing is that we could do that to a million different people before lunch.”
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Will this chatbot replace humans?
The expert, who is a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, warned of “a huge impact with these systems for the worse by manipulating people in ways that they don’t even realise is happening”.
Ridge described it as “genuinely really scary” and asked if that kind of thing was happening now, to which the professor replied: “Quite likely, yes.”
He said China, Russia and North Korea have large teams who “pump out disinformation” and with AI “we’ve given them a power tool”.
“The concern of the letter is really about the next generation of the system. Right now the systems have some limitations in their ability to construct complicated plans.”
Read more:
What is GPT-4 and how does it improve upon ChatGPT?
Elon Musk reveals plan to build ‘TruthGPT’ despite warning of AI dangers
He suggested under the next generation of systems, or the one after that, corporations could be run by AI systems. “You could see military campaigns being organised by AI systems,” he added.
“If you’re building systems that are more powerful than human beings, how do human beings keep power over those systems forever? That’s the real concern behind the open letter.”
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The professor said he was trying to convince governments of the need to start planning ahead for when “we need to change the way our whole digital ecosystem… works.”
Since it was released last year, Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT has prompted rivals to accelerate the development of similar large language models and encouraged companies to integrate generative AI models into their products.
UK unveils proposals for ‘light touch’ regulations around AI
It comes as the UK government recently unveiled proposals for a “light touch” regulatory framework around AI.
The government’s approach, outlined in a policy paper, would split the responsibility for governing AI between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than create a new body dedicated to the technology.
Rory McIlroy has completed a career Grand Slam in golf with his win at the US Masters tournament.
The Masters was the last major tournament left for McIlroy to complete the modern golf Grand Slam – a feat only five others have managed before him.
McIlroy, who was making his 11th attempt at completing the Grand Slam, faced off Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to decide the Masters champion, after they finished tied on 11 under at the end of regulation on Sunday.
McIlroy reacts as he wins. Pic: AP
McIlroy reacts after winning against Justin Rose at the Masters. Pic: AP
“It’s my 17th time here and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” McIlroy said just before slipping on the Green Jacket during the presentation ceremony.
“I’m just absolutely honoured and thrilled and just so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”
McIlroy had missed his six-foot putt for par, a bogey which dropped him back to 11 under, where he joined Rose – leading to a dramatic play-off between the two.
Only five other golfers have been able to complete a career Grand Slam, including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
Pic: AP
McIlroy is a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, claiming the prize in 2012 and 2014.
The 35-year-old also won his first major title, the US Open, in 2011, and won The Open Championship in 2014.
How did McIlroy get to the victory?
McIlroy recovered from losing his overnight two-shot advantage with an opening-hole double bogey to initially take control at Augusta National, only to blow a four-shot lead over his closing six holes.
The world No 2 bogeyed the last to close a one-over 73 and slip back to 11 under alongside Rose, who overturned a seven-stroke deficit and posted a stunning final-round 66 to force a play-off.
The players returned to the 18th for the play-off, where McIlroy made amends for his 72nd-hole blunder by firing a stunning approach to within three feet of the pin and making the birdie putt required for a life-changing win.
UK
Race to keep British Steel furnaces running with last-minute efforts to secure raw materials under way
Last-minute efforts to keep British Steel operating are to be carried out today, as the plant races to secure a supply of raw materials.
The Department for Business and Trade said officials are working to secure supplies of materials, including coking coal, to keep British Steel operational, as well as to ensure all staff will be paid.
It added that setting up new supply chains was “crucial” as a fall in blast furnace temperature could risk “irreparable damage to the site, with the steel setting and scarring the machinery”.
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British Steel: What happens next?
Companies including Tata – which ran the now-closed Port Talbot steelworks – and Rainham Steel have offered managerial support and materials to keep the Lincolnshire site running.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said in a statement that “when I said steelmaking has a future in the UK, I meant it”.
“Steel is vital for our national security and our ambitious plans for the housing, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in the UK,” he added.
“We will set out a long-term plan to co-invest with the private sector to ensure steel in the UK has a bright and sustainable future.”
Unions said Jingye decided to cancel orders of key materials for the steelworks
Earlier this month, unions said the steelwork’s owner, Chinese company Jingye, decided to cancel future orders for the iron ore, coal and other raw materials needed to keep the furnaces running.
It meant the Scunthorpe plant had been on course to close down by May, bit it sparked urgent calls for government intervention.
Emergency legislation was passed on Saturday bringing the steelworks into effective government control, and officials were on site as soon as the new legislation came into force.
However, the business secretary has warned that does not mean the plant is guaranteed to survive.
Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Reynolds also said he would not bring a Chinese company into the “sensitive” steel sector again.
“I don’t know… the Boris Johnson government when they did this, what exactly the situation was,” he added. “But I think it’s a sensitive area.”
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‘I wouldn’t bring a Chinese company into our steel sector’
Jingye stepped in with a deal to buy British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant out of insolvency in 2020, when Mr Johnson was prime minister.
The minister added that while The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill stops short of the full nationalisation of British Steel, “to be frank, as I said to parliament yesterday, it is perhaps at this stage the likely option”.
The Conservatives accused the government of acting “too late” and implementing a “botched nationalisation” after ignoring warnings about the risk to the steelworks.
Read more:
A sticking plaster, not a solution: What next for British Steel?
How Trump, China and Reform all played their part
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: “The Labour Government have landed themselves in a steel crisis entirely of their own making.
“They’ve made poor decisions and let the unions dictate their actions.”
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