Dario Amodei, CEO of the tech firm Anthropic, has issued a stark caution regarding the potential societal impacts of rapidly advancing AI technologies.
Anthropic, a company focused on artificial intelligence, is undoubtedly planning to leverage AI in its future endeavors. However, Amodei warns of significant societal shifts that AI could bring about.
In a conversation with CNN, Amodei highlighted the swift learning curve of AI, suggesting it might lead to transformative societal changes. He emphasized the need for public awareness and concern as these changes could alter the fundamental ways in which society operates. He expressed concern that policymakers and businesses may not be prepared for these shifts.
Amodei stated, “AI is starting to get better than humans at almost all intellectual tasks, and we’re going to collectively, as a society, grapple with it.”
“AI is going to get better at what everyone does, including what I do, including what other CEOs do,” he continued.
Amodei predicts that the AI advancements being developed could lead to the disappearance of approximately half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, potentially driving unemployment rates to 20% within the next one to five years.
Despite the severity of this issue, there are reservations that companies will halt their progress towards their goals, irrespective of the associated risks.
In a discussion with Axios earlier this week, Amodei suggested that the U.S. unemployment rate might increase fivefold in the coming years.
He remarked, “Most of them are unaware that this is about to happen. It sounds crazy, and people just don’t believe it.”
Amodei elaborated on why he addresses the potential downsides of an AI-dominated future, despite having a vested interest in the industry.
He stated, “We, as the producers of this technology, have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what is coming. I don’t think this is on people’s radar.”
He continued, “It’s a very strange set of dynamics where we’re saying: ‘You should be worried about where the technology we’re building is going.’ Critics reply: ‘We don’t believe you. You’re just hyping it up.’”
To those skeptical of his warnings, Amodei suggested they consider the possibility of his predictions being accurate.
He also proposed that lawmakers might need to intervene sooner rather than later to mitigate possible adverse effects from the broader implementation of AI technologies.