The two-day annual AI for Good conference, hosted by the UN telecommunications agency, commenced with an address by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. Altman’s speech centered on the potential societal impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology across sectors such as robotics, medicine, education, and sustainable development.
Despite his positive outlook on AI, Altman encountered rigorous inquiries about governance, an AI voice controversy, and criticisms from former board members during the conference. Scrutiny of OpenAI’s business practices and approach to AI safety has heightened in recent months, particularly following a product showcase that garnered disapproval from actress Scarlett Johansson. Altman dismissed concerns about the similarity between the AI voice and Johansson’s, affirming that it was not her voice and attributing the confusion to differing opinions.
The issue of oversight for major AI companies resurfaced following the departure of researchers Jan Leike and co-founder Ilya Sutskever from OpenAI. Both individuals voiced concerns about the organization’s approach to AI technology safety, particularly the prioritization of product development over safety measures. This resulted in the dissolution of OpenAI’s “Superalignment” team and the establishment of a new safety committee.
The AI landscape has rapidly evolved over the past 18 months, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT leading the way in generative AI technology. This advancement has prompted other corporations and startups to introduce their own versions of AI systems capable of producing original text, images, and videos.
In addition to Altman’s address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also underscored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on various sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management during the conference. The event aimed to offer guidance to businesses, consumers, and governments on harnessing the potential of AI while mitigating its associated risks.
The UN AI for Good conference serves as a platform for discussion and collaboration among global leaders, industry experts, and policymakers to navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its implications for society.
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