DeepMind CEO worries about threats from autonomous AI, not job losses

In a recent interview at the SXSW festival in London, Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google’s AI research division DeepMind, shared his perspectives on artificial intelligence and its implications. He expressed his view that the fear of an AI-induced job crisis, often referred to as 'jobpocalypse', is not a primary concern for him. Instead, Hassabis highlighted the urgent need to prevent AI technology from falling into the wrong hands and emphasized the importance of establishing regulatory measures to ensure that powerful AI systems are used responsibly. He acknowledged that malicious actors could repurpose AI technologies for harmful purposes, urging for access restrictions to safeguard against such threats. Additionally, he discussed the societal implications of AI's rapid advancement. New AI models are developing capabilities in areas like video generation and coding, leading to fears about job displacement but Hassabis believes that there is potential for the creation of new jobs and increased productivity as AI technologies evolve. Hassabis compared the advancement of AI to historical technological shifts, claiming that such changes typically lead to the emergence of better job opportunities after some initial disruptions. This indicates a belief that society can adapt to new work landscapes facilitated by AI. While he recognized the risks of bias and mishaps associated with AI—evidenced by incidents of AI-generated misinformation and deepfake technology—he maintained that AI's benefits could outweigh the potential downsides if managed correctly. He advocates for an international agreement regarding the ethical use of AI, suggesting that as the global landscape shifts politically, the world must unite to lay down fundamental rules regarding AI utilization. The advancements in AI are occurring against a backdrop of geopolitical competition, where countries like the United States and China are racing to claim leadership in AI technologies. This environment makes it even more critical for safety measures to be established to mitigate the threats posed by unregulated AI development and application. Hassabis is optimistic about AI's future role in society, believing that as its capabilities become more recognized, there will be a growing consensus on the need for regulation that benefits society as a whole. In doing so, he highlighted the dual nature of AI's impact on the economy: while it poses challenges, it also offers great opportunities if leveraged properly.