The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything

Humankind is “on a knife’s edge” thanks to artificial intelligence, according to this bleak survey from filmmaker Barrat (Our Final Invention). He contends that generative AI could eventually give rise to an artificial superintelligence that is “a million times more intelligent” than humans. A superintelligence, he claims, will likely take steps to destroy the species and “take over the world.” AI already has a host of problems, Barrat contends, as it’s built on propaganda generation and bias. Additionally, tech companies have “chained themselves” to computer systems they can’t fully control or understand. Barrat cites statistics about AI coming for jobs already, and writes in his introduction that “there’s some hope in these pages but not much.” Though he grants that language learning machines are transparent and can help researchers, he’s up-front that he doesn’t “think we’re going to make it,” a sentiment echoed by Nate Soares, executive director of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, who says in a Guardian piece cited by the author, “I think there’s a good chance my friends’ kids will never grow up.” It makes for an alarming horror story, though Barrat doesn’t include much in the way of alternative perspectives. This cri de coeur frightens more than it convinces. (Sept.)