Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently called for lawmakers to step in and regulate the use of artificial intelligence, warning that the advanced technology could create a dangerous environment around the world.
The tech giant's CEO said in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that “we need to adapt as a society for it.” He added that it’s not for a company to decide on the laws, and that social scientists, ethicists, philosophers, and others need to be included in developing the regulations.
"It’s not for a company to decide," Pichai continued. "This is why I think the development of this needs to include not just engineers but social scientists, ethicists, philosophers, and so on."
Critics of AI have raised concerns about how robots could replace more occupations and create a world where machines are unaware of their behaviors. Pichai warned that the technology could also be used to create deepfake videos, which could be used to spread disinformation and “cause a lot of harm.”
Google released a statement, saying that while self-regulation is important, “balanced, fact-based guidance from governments, academia and civil society is also needed to establish boundaries, including in the form of regulation.”
Recently, Italy officials banned the AI chatbot ChatGPT, citing concerns about data privacy. Pichai said that the fast development of AI technologies would impact every product and disrupt knowledge-based workers, including writers, architects, accountants, and software engineers.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt also warned that AI could hurt American politics, saying that authorities need to help regulate the technology now. Meanwhile, tech leaders like Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have called for a pause in the development of new AI models.
It is clear that AI is a rapidly growing technology with potential consequences that are still largely unknown. As the world grapples with the implications of AI, it is important that lawmakers act now to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and that the rights of individuals are protected.