Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt calls ChatGPT 'watershed moment' for AI
Former CEO and Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt, has acknowledged the importance of OpenAI's language model, ChatGPT, in the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Speaking at the 2023 Milken Global Conference, Schmidt expressed how he didn't believe it would have such a significant impact a year ago, explaining that it's a "watershed moment" for AI developers now that they've recognized the power of the technology.
However, Schmidt also highlighted the need for guardrails to protect against the risks of AI. He suggested that bad actors could use the technology to spread misinformation in democracies, develop new bioweapons, or even launch cyberattacks. Schmidt has served as the chairman of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and, therefore, is an expert on AI.
As those systems improve, Schmidt predicts that the companies that figure out the best uses for AI will develop a competitive advantage over those that do not. He explained that it's a significant change since the arrival of AI means that systems will become much more powerful, and so the companies that adopt AI soon will get an economic advantage.
It is not only in corporate America that AI is being explored, but the government is also looking into the possibilities of AI. Schmidt indicated that there's an opportunity for the United States to lead the rest of the world in both AI development and regulation.
