Tech genius and billionaire Elon Musk is making some dire predictions.
The CEO of Tesla and Space X is predicting artificial intelligence also known as AI could very well be the cause of the next World War.
“China, Russia, soon all countries (with) strong computer science. Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3 (in my opinion),” Musk tweeted.
“May be initiated not by the country leaders, but one of the AI’s, if it decides that a prepemptive strike is most probable path to victory.”
Musk’s tweeting frenzy comes on the heels of comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Artificial intelligence is the future not only of Russia but of all of mankind,” Putin was quoted by CNN during a speech. “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”
According to CNN, the U.S., China and India are the front runners in AI, but Musk says other countries could very well catch up.
“Govts don’t need to follow normal laws,” Musk tweeted. “They will obtain AI developed by companies at gunpoint, if necessary.”
This is not a new tune Musk is singing. The 46-year-old started voicing his concerns about AI back in 2014.
During an interview at the MIT AeroAstro Centennial Symposium in October 2014, Musk compared AI to a demon, describing it as a danger to the human race.
“I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that. So we need to be very careful with artificial intelligence,” Musk said at the time.
“I’m increasingly inclined to think that to there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish. With artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon. You know those stories where there’s the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water, and he’s like — Yeah, he’s sure he can control the demon? Doesn’t work out.”
Musk has said he invested in AI firm Deep Mind, which has since been snapped up by Google, just so he could keep tabs on what is going on.
One of his newest companies, Neuralink, is a bid to develop AI in a way that Musk believes will carry less risk.
“I was trying to really sound the alarm on the AI front for quite a while, but it was clearly having no impact,” Musk told Wait But Why when he launched Neuralink. “So I was like, ‘Oh fine, OK, then we’ll have to try to help develop it in a way that’s good.’ “
