OpenAI CEO: Israel to Play ‘Huge’ Role in AI Future.
OpenAI CEO Sees Huge Role for Israel in AI Risk Reduction
Altman is one of the tech world’s most prominent voices urging governments to rapidly come up with regulations to make sure AI is used responsibly.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has predicted a “huge role” for Israel in reducing risks associated with artificial intelligence. Israel has been ranked among the top five countries for significant machine learning systems and concentration of AI skills. Altman is currently in Israel and has eyed investment opportunities in the country. He has been meeting with world leaders to discuss the prospects and threats of AI and plans to travel to Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India, and South Korea this week.
Positive Benefits of AI
During a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Altman expressed his optimism about the positive benefits of AI and the energy on making use of the technology. He downplayed fears of the impact AI will have on jobs, stating that there will always be jobs for humans, although the jobs of “100 years from now will look almost nothing like the jobs of today.”
Safety Concerns
The rapid development and popularity of generative AI since Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year are spurring global lawmakers to formulate laws to address safety concerns linked to the technology. Altman believes that it would be a mistake to put heavy regulation on the field right now or to try to slow down the incredible innovation. However, he stated that he would obey regulations unlike some social media companies.
Israel’s AI Policy
Israel published a 115-page draft AI policy in October and is collating public feedback ahead of a final decision. Altman also said that the company plans to open source more models over time, but he doesn’t think it’s the right strategy to open source everything.
Regulation
The European Union is striding ahead with its draft AI Act, which is expected to become law later this year, while the United States is leaning toward adapting existing laws for AI rather than creating whole new legislation. Britain also wants to avoid heavy-handed legislation that could stifle innovation. “Israel – like Britain, and to a great extent like Canada, too – is at the U.S. end of the spectrum,” said Ziv Katzir, director of national AI planning at the Israel Innovation Authority.
“It has been working on this matter for the last 18 months or so, with a view to achieving the right balance between innovation and the preservation of human rights and civic safeguards.”
Altman spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who tweeted that the two discussed opportunities and challenges facing the world and the State of Israel in relation to AI as well as Israeli cooperation to develop the AI field.
(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Alex Richardson and Sharon Singleton)
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