Unregulated AI could trigger disasters, expert warns

Stuart Russell, AI expert and UC Berkeley professor, delivers a keynote speech at the ‘2024 World Knowledge Forum Pohang’ hosted by Maeil Business Newspaper at the POSCO International Center on the 12th. This is the first time the forum has been held in a local government area in Korea. (Lee Seung-hwan)

Governments worldwide must implement regulations to manage the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid global disasters, an expert warned.

In a keynote speech at the 2024 World Knowledge Forum Pohang on Wednesday, organized by Maeil Business Newspaper, University of California Berkeley professor of computer science Stuart Russell cautioned that AI could surpass human abilities in certain fields within the next decade, potentially leading to uncontrollable and irreversible disasters.

A prominent authority in AI, machine learning, and robotics, and often referred to as the “father of AI,” Russell warned that the current approach to AI development could result in a loss of human control. He argued that AI should evolve to assist while maintaining human oversight and stressed the need to align AI’s actions with human interests, while also highlighting the importance of developing AI that can address complex mathematical challenges.

Russell projected that AI will eventually exceed human capabilities in many areas, emphasizing that AI should aim to solve challenges of human intelligence. He identified education as a key field where AI could make a significant impact, noting that large language models (LLMs) can understand much of what we teach via deep learning. He also suggested AI could help reduce educational disparities caused by income inequality.

AI can greatly expand educational opportunities, making private education less of a privilege for the wealthy, according to Russell. Criticizing global AI companies for their reluctance to invest in education due to profitability concerns, he called for more investment in AI-driven educational tools, adding his prediction that whoever leads in AI will lead the world, given AI‘s immense potential and unstoppable momentum.

Meanwhile, international scholars at the forum expressed optimism about the host city of Pohang, particularly as it transitions from traditional steel industries to advanced sectors such as secondary batteries, biotechnology, and hydrogen. Jim Rogers, Chairman of Beeland Interests Inc., noted that despite a current slump in the electric vehicle market, the era of electric vehicles is inevitable and positioned Pohang as a promising investment hub due to its focus on secondary battery companies.

The World Knowledge Forum, Asia’s largest global business forum, was held in Pohang for the first time in 2024 where it attracted a significant number of participants.