Of Nobel Prizes, AI and the impossible calculus of risks and rewards ...
By now, most people who read the news are aware that last week’s Nobel prizes for Physics and Chemistry were a little unusual. The prizes were won by Physics Laureates Geoff Hinton and John Hopfield, and Chemistry Laureates David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper. They were all chosen because AI not only played a central role in their discoveries, but was the protagonist, hero, and romantic lead in their narratives. (I use the phrase ‘romantic lead’ with intent — the AI community fell into a near erotic swoon after news of these two awards broke.)
The Impact of AI in Science
Many cliches like ‘game-changing’ have been bandied about, but they are far too flaccid to actually describe what was developed, tested, and formalized by the recipients. What is clear is that AI has, in a remarkably short time (about two decades since machines started to bite), changed science forever. It offers the promise of a new age of discovery, one that will unfold faster than any other fertile period of invention in human history. The Nobel adjudicators clearly wanted to make this point loudly. So they made it twice over.
The Other Side of AI
Physics Laureate Geoff Hinton, whose moniker ‘the Godfather of AI’ has been affixed to him for decades, has a second string to his bow, which has been somewhat lost in all the applause. In 2023 Hinton famously quit Google, where he was a Vice President and Google Fellow, citing the need to speak more openly about AI and the risks it poses to the wellbeing of our species.
The Uncertain Future of AI
AI leaders caution about the risks associated with the rapid acceleration of AI innovation. The unpredictability has led to calls for pausing the training of powerful AI systems and mitigating the risk of extinction from AI as a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks.
The Challenge of Misinformation
To exemplify the stakes involved, developments in detecting misinformation through AI technologies are discussed. The prevalence of fake media and the challenges in certifying authenticity pose significant societal concerns.
Weighing Risks and Rewards
There is a critical need to evaluate the risks posed by AI against the potential rewards it offers to society. The public discourse emphasizes the importance of considering whether the risks could undermine the foundations of society, despite the benefits AI brings.
This story was originally published at https://stevenboykeysidley.substack.com and is published on Generative AI.
