Leaders share mixed views about AI’s future at WKF

Steven Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc. [Photo by Han Joo-hyung]

Global tech leaders on Tuesday had mixed views about the future of artificial intelligence (AI), with some calling for further industry development and others demanding regulation.

Some experts noted that it is impossible to stop the evolution of AI and it is therefore essential to actively embrace it for its potential benefits. But others highlighted the need to control the development speed due to frequent distortions of fake information as truth.

At the World Knowledge Forum (WKF) organized by Maeil Business Newspaper, Steven Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., argued that AI should be regulated.

In an interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, saying that “I get angry” as well as pointing out that anything can come out of Open AI and that it can do anything.

The three-day WKF kicked off Tuesday under the theme of “Techno Big Bang: Humanity on the Shoulders of Giants.”

During a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Wozniak emphasized that people should harness the AI boom that is sweeping the world but must be vigilant about its side effects.

He said that AI ethics begin with clearly identifying the sources of information, such as in the case of deep learning and generative AI such as ChatGPT, saying that people need to reveal what search engine was used and where the information came from.

Ultimately, his argument is that regulation is necessary to distinguish between truth and falsehoods.

Wozniak added that AI is not true intelligence, adding that users need to control AI and what they need is “truth.”

Sam Altman, chief executive officer of ChatGPT developer OpenAI, on the screen, talks with Ben Nelson, the founder of Minerva University at a WKF session on Sep. 12. [Photo by Han Joo-hyung]

On the other hand, Sam Altman, chief executive officer of ChatGPT developer OpenAI, predicted that AI will significantly enhance human productivity and creativity.

Altman attended a session on Tuesday at the WKF titled, “The Future of AI and its Impact on Humanity: Fireside Chat with Sam Altman and Ben Nelson.”

Altman said that the emergence of powerful tools such as ChatGPT will lead to an era within a few years where one-person startups can become unicorns, or unlisted companies with a valuation of over 1 trillion won ($754 million).

He said that young people are rapidly adapting to ChatGPT after its recent introduction.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also sent a video message that was shared during the opening ceremony of the WKF event.

“Korea will strengthen partnerships with technology-leading countries that share core values, as well as expand international joint research and development and human exchange to lead scientific innovation,” he said.

Over 1,500 participants attended the forum, including former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, People Power Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun, Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Kwang-on, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won.