Parmy Olson, a Bloomberg technology columnist and author of "Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World," dives into the intense competition in AI between Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis. She discusses the need for governance in AI to prevent corporate overreach. Parmy reveals the obstacles investigative journalists face with secretive entities like DeepMind, contrasting it with OpenAI's transparency. The conversation also touches on the ethical challenges within AI development and the implications of advancements like self-driving cars for democracy.
The podcast highlights the pressing need for governance in AI to mitigate ethical risks posed by corporate control over technology.
Parmy Olson emphasizes the challenges journalists face in accessing information from secretive AI organizations, revealing the tension between transparency and commercial interests.
Deep dives
Control Over Artificial Intelligence
The podcast delves into the concept of supremacy regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and its governance. The discussion emphasizes the struggle for control over AI technology, including its creation, dissemination, and governance. The significance of governance is highlighted, as the unchecked power of large corporations concerning AI raises concerns about potential ethical implications and abuses of control. There is a suggestion that without proper oversight, vital societal interests may be jeopardized, particularly if AI technology is dominated by a select few corporate entities.
Challenges of Investigative Journalism
The guest, Parmi Olson, shares her experiences as an investigative journalist and the challenges she faced while reporting on AI organizations like DeepMind and OpenAI. Her persistence in trying to connect with insiders, likened to high-risk journalism, showcases the difficulties of extracting information from secretive tech companies. Olson recalls the extensive efforts made to engage with industry insiders, revealing a culture of apprehension around discussing sensitive organizational matters publicly. This highlights the complexities involved in acquiring a balanced narrative amid the protective measures implemented within such influential tech firms.
Tensions Between Idealism and Commercial Pressure
The dialogue addresses the inherent tensions faced by AI organizations between idealistic goals and commercial pressures. Both DeepMind and OpenAI were founded with noble aspirations, yet the financial demands of developing cutting-edge AI technologies have led them towards commercialization. The discussion points out that external funding and profit motives have necessitated compromises that may dilute their original missions. This conflict of interest raises questions about whether the commercialization of AI will ultimately hinder the pursuit of beneficial advancements for society.
The Race Towards Superintelligence
The competitive landscape surrounding the development of superintelligence is scrutinized, primarily focusing on the races between prominent players like Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis. Both individuals acknowledge the existential risks associated with creating superintelligent AI yet continue their efforts under the belief that they can control its development. The conversation suggests that the race to build powerful AI could lead to unforeseen consequences, including potential societal impacts and ethical dilemmas. This race reflects a broader dynamic where technological advancements are pursued rapidly, often without sufficient public discourse on their long-term implications.
Our guest in this episode is Parmy Olson, a columnist for Bloomberg covering technology. Parmy has previously been a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and for Forbes. Her first book, “We Are Anonymous”, shed fascinating light on what the subtitle calls “the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency”.
But her most recent book illuminates a set of high-stakes relations with potentially even bigger consequences for human wellbeing. The title is “Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World”. The race is between two remarkable individuals, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Demis Hassabis of DeepMind, who are each profoundly committed to build AI that exceeds human capabilities in all aspects of reasoning.