Former Google CEO warns AI could be as dangerous as nuclear weapons

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt likened artificial intelligence to nuclear weapons and urged the world not to allow ‘AI-Hiroshima’. Vice reports.

Speaking at a security forum in Aspen, Schmidt floated the possibility of a US-China agreement to curb AI technologies.

“In the 1950s and 1960s, we ultimately created a world where there was no rule against surprise nuclear tests, and eventually they were banned,” he said.

Schmidt stressed the difficulties of negotiating a possible AI agreement between the two countries. He said that finding common ground between China and the United States is likely to be more difficult than many suppose.

“I am deeply concerned that the US’s view of China as corrupt, communist, or something else, and China’s view of the US as a loser… will lead people to say, ‘My God, they’re up to something'”

Schmidt added that this state of affairs would allow one side to begin preparing to weaponize artificial intelligence, prompting the other side to respond.

The veteran also admitted that he had been naive about the IT sector when he took over as Google’s CEO.

“Now I understand that information is everything: it is incredibly powerful,” Schmidt added.

He now urges that technologies be developed in accordance with the ethics and morality of the people they serve.

As reported in July 2021, Schmidt stated that China is catching up with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence and quantum computing faster than previously expected.

In December, China’s ambassador for arms control at the United Nations, Li Sun spoke out against the use of AI in military applications. The diplomat urged the world community to establish common rules for regulating the technology.

In March 2022, the U.S. military requested $29,8 million for AI infrastructure development. Air Force General Glen VanHerck said the upgrade would give the United States an edge over strong rivals such as China.

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