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Eric Schmidt, the former boss of the giant Google, fears the wild development of artificial intelligence. Considering that AI is as dangerous as nuclear weapons, he recommends that world powers, such as the United States or China, agree on a deterrence treaty.
On July 22, 2022, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, participated in the Aspen security forum (United States). At a conference, the former executive chairman compared artificial intelligence (AI) to nuclear bombs.
“We are not ready for the negotiations that we need.” – @ericschmidt #AspenSecurity pic.twitter.com/As749t6ZyU
—Aspen Security Forum (@AspenSecurity) July 22, 2022
Based on this comparison, Schmidt recommends that all major powers, such as the United States and China, work to create a relationship of trust regarding artificial intelligence. The businessman believes that this relationship should be closer to the nuclear deterrence policy implemented by many countries, including France.
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Eric Schmidt argues for AI policy of deterrence
Born from the ashes of the Second World War, this military strategy consists of holding nuclear weapons in the event of an attack from abroad. The prospect of a nuclear response thus dissuades the enemy from using its own missiles. Under this theory, the assailant refrains from using nuclear weapons, which maintains peace between nations.
During the Cold War, this policy led to the prohibition of secret nuclear tests. Concretely, any country which organizes nuclear tests must warn foreign powers. This rule prevents a try from being interpreted as an attack and triggering a riposte.
“In the 1950s and 1960s, we finally created a world where there was a ‘no surprises’ rule regarding nuclear testing. […] You have to start building a system where because you’re arming yourself or getting ready, you trigger the same thing then the other side. We don’t have anyone working on it, and yet the AI is so powerful,” says Eric Schmidt.
This policy must be applied to artificial intelligence, which would be as dangerous as nuclear weapons, underlines the billionaire. The former leader of Google regrets that a system similar to that of nuclear deterrence has not been put in place to oversee the development of AI. Without barriers, the rise of this technology could have harmful consequences.
During his speech, the philanthropist imagined a future in which the United States and China will have to agree on the development of AI. Schmidt invites these two world powers, which are investing heavily in AI-based technologies, to put in place a nuclear-like deterrence treaty.
A fund to meet the challenges of AI
Mirroring Schmidt, Sundar Pichai, the current CEO of the giant Google, believes that artificial intelligence must absolutely be framed. In several interviews published in recent years, he compares AI to fire or electricity.
“Advances in artificial intelligence are still in their infancy, but I consider it to be the most profound technology that humanity will work on and we need to make sure we harness it. for the benefit of society. […] Fire also kills people. We have learned to control it for the good of humanity, but we have also learned to control its bad sides”Sundar Pichai explained in particular in 2018 in an interview with Recode.
To guide the development of AI, Eric Schmidt created the AI2050 fund last February. Reserved for academics, this fund will inject 125 million dollars to finance “research on “difficult problems” in artificial intelligence”. The initiative will focus in particular on the programming biases of algorithms, geopolitical conflicts and the excesses of technology.