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BucknallHacohen2021CurrentNear-Term

Benjamin S. Bucknall and Shiri Dori-Hacohen, "Current and Near-Term AI as a Potential Existential Risk Factor"

Bibliographic info

Benjamin S. Bucknall and Shiri Dori-Hacohen. 2022. Current and Near-Term AI as a Potential Existential Risk Factor. In Proceedings of the 2022 AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES '22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1145/3514094.3534146

Commentary

The paper delves into the contemporary focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as a potential source of existential risks, examining both powerful AI systems and more modest AI systems, which are often overlooked in discussions. The text has a comprehensive approach to discussing various aspects of existential risk research, encompassing both AI's negative and positive impacts. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how AI, especially at its current capability, can pose existential risks, and how addressing such risks is vital. Additionally, the paper effectively connects the fields of digital humanities and existential risk research, with an interdisciplinary approach.

The paper emphasizes on current and near-term AI. While this is important since it is getting closer and develops quickly, it might be overemphasized on the near future. The paper focuses heavily on the potential risks posed by current and near-term AI systems. While this is important, it may not fully capture the long-term implications and challenges associated with advanced AI technologies, such as superintelligence.

Excerpts & Key Quotes

⇒ For 3-5 key passages, include the following: a descriptive heading, the page number, the verbatim quote, and your brief commentary on this

Less powerful systems?

"Within the existential risk research community, one of the most discussed risks is that of misaligned artificial intelligence (AI), of which many proposed scenarios rely on the assumption of at least 'human-level' artificial general intelligence (AGI), if not outright superintelligence. While we do not deny that some such risks are valid and deserve attention, we feel that less powerful AI systems, including those that are present at the time of writing, ought to also be included in the discussion of existential risks."

Comment:

The acknowledgment of misaligned AI as a significant existential risk is crucial. However, in my opinion, the paper's suggestion to include less powerful AI systems in the discussion of existential risks must be carefully considered. While narrow AI systems may have the potential to cause harm and pose risks, its impact on existential risks is not as clear as that of highly advanced AI. Focusing on less powerful AI systems might divert attention from the more urgent concerns related to superintelligent AI. I think it is essential to prioritize the discussion and mitigation strategies for the most advanced AI technologies to effectively address the most critical risks. A more balanced approach that considers both current and near-term AI alongside the long-term risks associated with AGI and superintelligence would provide a better understanding of AI's role in existential risk scenarios.

All kinds of existential risks

"The practice of developing and training AI systems has a drastic first-hand climate impact, due to the large amounts of energy needed to run the hardware system on which the AI is running."

Comment:

This is just one of the risks that is mentioned (next to nuclear weaponry risk, pandemics and biotechnology risks and unaligned AI risk). It is a clear example of how something that is already a great risk for humanity, can become an even greater risk with AI. AI's environmental impact, particularly its energy consumption, contributes to the overall climate change risk. Striking a balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability is crucial.
However, AI-driven advancements in military technologies can also lead to dangerous situations or AI in biotechnology can pose a risk to global health security. These are risks that need to be considered, since these risks are often seen seperately, but are correlated.

(Replace this heading text for this passage)

"We argued that short-term harms from extant AI systems may magnify, complicate, or exacerbate other existential risks, over and above the harms they are inflicting on present society. In this manner, we have offered a bridge connecting two seemingly distinct areas of study: AI’s present harms to society and AI-driven existential risk."

Comment:

The authors' perspective on the interconnectedness of AI's short-term impacts and existential risks is essential for understanding the broader implications of AI development. By recognizing how current AI applications influence potential existential threats, researchers and policymakers should take measures to address these risks and develop responsible AI practices. This discussion serves as a call for greater attention to the societal consequences of AI and the potential implications for global existential risks. To create a safe and secure future, it's important to think about the long-term consequences of AI development and ensure it aligns with human values and the well-being of society.

dg-publish: true
author:

Benjamin S. Bucknall and Shiri Dori-Hacohen, "Current and Near-Term AI as a Potential Existential Risk Factor"

Bibliographic info

Benjamin S. Bucknall and Shiri Dori-Hacohen. 2022. Current and Near-Term AI as a Potential Existential Risk Factor. In Proceedings of the 2022 AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES '22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1145/3514094.3534146

Commentary

The paper delves into the contemporary focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as a potential source of existential risks, examining both powerful AI systems and more modest AI systems, which are often overlooked in discussions. The text has a comprehensive approach to discussing various aspects of existential risk research, encompassing both AI's negative and positive impacts. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how AI, especially at its current capability, can pose existential risks, and how addressing such risks is vital. Additionally, the paper effectively connects the fields of digital humanities and existential risk research, with an interdisciplinary approach.

The paper emphasizes on current and near-term AI. While this is important since it is getting closer and develops quickly, it might be overemphasized on the near future. The paper focuses heavily on the potential risks posed by current and near-term AI systems. While this is important, it may not fully capture the long-term implications and challenges associated with advanced AI technologies, such as superintelligence.

Excerpts & Key Quotes

⇒ For 3-5 key passages, include the following: a descriptive heading, the page number, the verbatim quote, and your brief commentary on this

Less powerful systems?

"Within the existential risk research community, one of the most discussed risks is that of misaligned artificial intelligence (AI), of which many proposed scenarios rely on the assumption of at least 'human-level' artificial general intelligence (AGI), if not outright superintelligence. While we do not deny that some such risks are valid and deserve attention, we feel that less powerful AI systems, including those that are present at the time of writing, ought to also be included in the discussion of existential risks."

Comment:

The acknowledgment of misaligned AI as a significant existential risk is crucial. However, in my opinion, the paper's suggestion to include less powerful AI systems in the discussion of existential risks must be carefully considered. While narrow AI systems may have the potential to cause harm and pose risks, its impact on existential risks is not as clear as that of highly advanced AI. Focusing on less powerful AI systems might divert attention from the more urgent concerns related to superintelligent AI. I think it is essential to prioritize the discussion and mitigation strategies for the most advanced AI technologies to effectively address the most critical risks. A more balanced approach that considers both current and near-term AI alongside the long-term risks associated with AGI and superintelligence would provide a better understanding of AI's role in existential risk scenarios.

All kinds of existential risks

"The practice of developing and training AI systems has a drastic first-hand climate impact, due to the large amounts of energy needed to run the hardware system on which the AI is running."

Comment:

This is just one of the risks that is mentioned (next to nuclear weaponry risk, pandemics and biotechnology risks and unaligned AI risk). It is a clear example of how something that is already a great risk for humanity, can become an even greater risk with AI. AI's environmental impact, particularly its energy consumption, contributes to the overall climate change risk. Striking a balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability is crucial.
However, AI-driven advancements in military technologies can also lead to dangerous situations or AI in biotechnology can pose a risk to global health security. These are risks that need to be considered, since these risks are often seen seperately, but are correlated.

(Replace this heading text for this passage)

"We argued that short-term harms from extant AI systems may magnify, complicate, or exacerbate other existential risks, over and above the harms they are inflicting on present society. In this manner, we have offered a bridge connecting two seemingly distinct areas of study: AI’s present harms to society and AI-driven existential risk."

Comment:

The authors' perspective on the interconnectedness of AI's short-term impacts and existential risks is essential for understanding the broader implications of AI development. By recognizing how current AI applications influence potential existential threats, researchers and policymakers should take measures to address these risks and develop responsible AI practices. This discussion serves as a call for greater attention to the societal consequences of AI and the potential implications for global existential risks. To create a safe and secure future, it's important to think about the long-term consequences of AI development and ensure it aligns with human values and the well-being of society.