Former Google CEO Warns of AI’s Security Risks

Eric Schmidt warns of AI's risks and vulnerabilities.

Eric Schmidt, the former head of Google, highlighted the significant risks associated with artificial intelligence and noted its vulnerability to hacking, reports CNBC.

“Is there a likelihood of a problem with the spread of AI? Absolutely. The risks are tied to the technology potentially falling into the hands of malicious actors who could use it for harm,” he said at the Sifted Summit conference.

The expert pointed out that both open and closed models can be hacked to remove safety constraints.

“During training, such neural networks learn a great deal. For instance, how to kill a person,” Schmidt emphasized.

According to him, there is no effective “non-proliferation regime” (similar to nuclear) to help contain the threats posed by artificial intelligence.

Despite the grim warning, the former Google CEO expressed confidence in the technology’s potential. He believes it is currently underestimated.

“I co-authored two books with Henry Kissinger before his death, and we concluded that the emergence of alien intelligence, which is not quite human but somewhat under our control, is a monumental event for humanity. People are accustomed to being at the top of the evolutionary chain. And I think this hypothesis is being confirmed: the capabilities of these systems will surpass human abilities over time,” Schmidt said.

He added that the GPT series, culminating in ChatGPT, has vividly demonstrated the technology’s capabilities and power.

The comments came amid talks of a bubble in the AI sector, showcasing the technology’s capabilities and power. Schmidt dismissed such a possibility.

“I don’t think it will happen, although I’m not a professional investor. I know one thing: people who invest their hard-earned money are confident that the long-term economic return will be colossal. Otherwise, why would they take such a risk?” he concluded.

Back in August, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that the artificial intelligence market is in a bubble.