Microsoft President on AGI Timeline
Microsoft President, Brad Smith, dismissed the possibility of achieving super-intelligent artificial intelligence (AGI) within the next 12 months, emphasizing that the technology might take years, if not decades, to materialize. Addressing reporters in Britain, he stressed the need for a focus on safety precautions, even as he downplayed concerns over a supposed dangerous breakthrough at OpenAI.
Recently, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman faced a brief removal as CEO, sparking an outcry from employees and shareholders. This move followed reports that researchers within the company had alerted the board to a potentially risky discovery in an internal project called Q* (pronounced Q-Star). The project aimed to advance OpenAI’s pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), defined as autonomous systems surpassing humans in economically valuable tasks.
Despite the upheaval at OpenAI, Smith rejected claims of a hazardous breakthrough and downplayed its role in Altman’s removal. He cited a broader list of grievances, including concerns about commercializing technological advances without proper risk assessment.
Advocating for Safety Measures
Smith emphasized the importance of implementing safety measures in AI systems, drawing parallels to safety brakes in elevators, circuit breakers in electricity, and emergency brakes in buses. According to him, integrating safety brakes in AI systems controlling critical infrastructure is crucial to ensure they always remain under human control.
In summary, Smith underscored the extended timeline for achieving AGI while advocating for proactive safety measures in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
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