Ep 13 - AI researchers expect AGI sooner w/ Katja Grace (Co-founder & Lead Researcher, AI Impacts)
Jun 19, 2024
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Katja Grace from AI Impacts discusses AI researchers' revised timelines, with views on AGI risks and benefits. Survey methodology, response rates, and concerns about AI-induced human extinction. Exploring evolving perspectives in AI, varying opinions on AGI progress speed and risks. Emphasizing AI safety research, potential impacts on society, and the need for informed policy decisions.
AI researchers predicting earlier arrival of AGI capabilities
Importance of AI safety measures and regulations to align with human values
Growing consensus on prioritizing safety research in AI development
Deep dives
Researchers Are Concerned About the Impacts of Advanced AI Systems
Over 3,000 AI researchers at top conferences expressed growing concerns about the pace of AI progress and the potential impacts on society. More than half of respondents predict negative outcomes, including a 5% or higher chance of extremely bad scenarios, such as human extinction.
Knowledge Creation and Distribution Are Essential in AI Research
AI has introduced an ocean of cognitive labor that could be unequally distributed. Concerns arise from new agents seeking their own goals that may not align with human values. The importance of rules and safeguards in AI development is emphasized to mitigate risks and ensure positive outcomes.
Evolution of Views on AI Safety and Progress
There has been a notable shift in AI research perspectives, with a significant increase in researchers advocating for more AI safety measures from 14% in 2016 to 34% in 2023. The survey results highlight a growing consensus on prioritizing safety research.
Challenges of Speed in Technology Advancement
Speed in technological advancements raises concerns, as institutions struggle to keep pace with evolving risks. The implications of rapid technological progress on societal norms and impact, such as mental health challenges posed by social media, are highlighted.
Future Preparedness and Adaptability in Careers
Adapting to evolving technological landscapes is crucial for future career readiness. Flexibility, willingness to change, and continuous learning are highlighted as essential attributes to navigate upcoming changes and uncertainties in careers driven by AI advancements.
We speak with Katja Grace. Katja is the co-founder and lead researcher at AI Impacts, a research group trying to answer key questions about the future of AI — when certain capabilities will arise, what will AI look like, how it will all go for humanity.
We talk to Katja about:
* How AI Impacts latest rigorous survey of leading AI researchers shows they've dramatically reduced their timelines to when AI will successfully tackle all human tasks & occupations. * The survey's methodology and why we can be confident in its results * Responses to the survey * Katja's journey into the field of AI forecasting * Katja's thoughts about the future of AI, given her long tenure studying AI futures and its impacts
Hosted by Soroush Pour. Follow me for more AGI content: Twitter: https://twitter.com/soroushjp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soroushjp/
* The 2023 survey of AI researchers views: https://wiki.aiimpacts.org/ai_timelines/predictions_of_human-level_ai_timelines/ai_timeline_surveys/2023_expert_survey_on_progress_in_ai * AI Impacts: https://aiimpacts.org/ * AI Impacts' Substack: https://blog.aiimpacts.org/ * Joe Carlsmith on Power Seeking AI: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.13353 * Abbreviated version: https://joecarlsmith.com/2023/03/22/existential-risk-from-power-seeking-ai-shorter-version * Fragile World hypothesis by Nick Bostrom: https://nickbostrom.com/papers/vulnerable.pdf
Recorded Feb 22, 2024
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