Tech billionaire Elon Musk told Tucker Carlson this week that researchers are training artificial intelligence (AI) systems to lie to users. Musk said this, and the trajectory of the rapidly-advancing technology could lead to severe issues, including potential catastrophe.
Carlson ran the special interview Monday and Tuesday and released a number of previews prior to air. Among the major topics was the future of artificial intelligence.
To Musk, there has been a concentration of AI technology in the hands of several companies, including Google. He cited former Google CEO Larry Page, saying that Page did not show concern about AI “safety.”
Musk said that Page had attempted to create a “digital god” through the use of technology.
He also said that currently-available AI technology is “being trained to be politically correct, which is simply another way of being untruthful, saying untruthful things.”
He said that training the AI to use such means is “certainly a path to AI dystopia.”
“They are teaching the AI to lie.”
— Elon MuskTeaching AI to go against its data and evidence is a slippery slope. Next step, killing humans is ok?https://t.co/pwtwUwkjvM
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) April 17, 2023
The Tesla founder continued that AI “has the potential — however, small one may regard that probability, but it is non-trivial — it has the potential of civilization destruction.”
Musk is not the only major tech thinker to express deep reservations about the future of AI technology.
He recently signed onto a letter by several major thinkers calling for a six-month pause in developing more advanced programs. Musk was joined by hundreds of others, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
The Twitter owner has since decided to found a new machine learning company, X.AI.
The billionaire has considerable experience in the field. He co-founded OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT and GPT4. Musk’s company Tesla has also pioneered self-driving artificial intelligence systems.
Musk has since criticized OpenAI, which he appeared to be referencing regarding political correctness. ChatGPT and GPT4 have been cited by conservatives for giving answers that appear to show left-wing bias.
The billionaire hinted on Twitter that he may sue OpenAI. He was asked whether he may consider suing the company for defrauding him.
“Wait for it…” he tweeted.
