Elon Musk Warns US Government About Artificial Intelligence’s Potential for ‘Evil’

Elon Musk has been warning the US government about the possible threats of artificial intelligence. He had a meeting with one of the top leaders, Senator Chuck Schumer, on Thursday, Apr.27, to discuss AI and the economy.

The Twitter CEO has voiced his concerns over the risks that artificial intelligence poses. He said that a regulation should be in place to ensure the public’s safety.

His meeting with Senator Schumer is about AI control, with the senator making efforts to promote national rules on the technology. Musk confirmed their discussions in a tweet, emphasizing the power of AI for good and evil purposes.

Met with @SenSchumer and many members of Congress about artificial intelligence regulation today.

That which affects safety of the public has, over time, become regulated to ensure that companies do not cut corners.

AI has great power to do good and evil. Better the former.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 27, 2023

Elon Musk’s Warning About AI’s “Evil” Potential

The billionaire highlighted that AI is evolving quickly and becoming more advanced. He warned that some could use it for “evil” purposes, such as controlling social media platforms to circulate misinformation or make autonomous weapons.

He noted that it must have regulations to ensure businesses won’t cut corners, especially when safety is at stake.

Senator Schumer commented on the meeting. He proposed a new regulatory system to safeguard the country from catastrophic damage.

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This meeting followed an open letter in March in which Musk and over one thousand tech leaders requested for the training of the advanced AI systems to be stopped.

Musk and other tech leaders’ concerns around the uncontrollable race for AI are becoming more human-competitive at regular tasks. As AI systems advance, the threat of loss of civilization control increases.

NOW – Elon Musk just exited Schumer’s office: "We talked about AI and the economy."pic.twitter.com/zfz7TIbu9Q

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) April 26, 2023

These warnings from the world’s top leaders are a clear call to action for the US government to take on the following steps to regulate the advancing technology.

What are some potential consequences of AI if used for “evil” purposes?

The consequences of using artificial intelligence for “evil” purposes can be severe if placed in the wrong hands. Experts said that crimes of deep concern are driverless vehicles as weapons, deepfakes, intelligent cyberattacks, and phishing attacks.

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On the other hand, the current main reason for its use is mainly for intelligence consolidation, predictive analytics, and as a trusted advisor that can reply quickly.

However, as it advances, there is also a growing risk that others can use it for inappropriate purposes.