Show Notes
The promises and perils of artificial intelligence are mythic. It could help alleviate poverty and hunger and even cure cancer. But it could also cause massive job loss, spread deepfakes and disinformation, and lead to profound disruption to our modern way of life. And right now, all of that power is held by just a few companies, even though we all carry the risks.
From Foreign Policy in collaboration with the Future of Life Institute comes a new podcast where global leaders ask AI experts urgent questions about this transformative technology and how we can govern it together. What guardrails are needed to ensure AI development is safe and beneficial for all of humanity? What are the red lines not to cross, and how can they be enforced? How can governments collaborate to create international standards that keep everyone safe? And how can the benefits of AI be spread equitably across the globe?
There’s no time to waste. We need to be having these conversations. Listen to ProHuman: Governing the Global AI Revolution wherever you get your podcasts.
For more from Future of Life, check out Global Governance of AI.
More from ProHuman: Governing the Global AI Revolution
Right now, we’re all living through a grand experiment. The rise of artificial intelligence promises to profoundly impact humanity. While conversations about AI are often focused on technical issues, this transformative technology will shape all aspects of society. The question facing world leaders has been asked before: How do we govern a technology powerful enough to threaten civilization itself?
The artificial intelligence boom has already created extraordinary wealth and minted a new generation of billionaires. However, there are currently no mechanisms in place for AI’s massive profits to trickle down to the rest of us, even as it wouldn’t exist without our data or human labor. Some people and places are especially vulnerable.
Competition between the United States and China is fierce, but if we continue to see the artificial intelligence revolution as a race between two superpowers, then we’re putting humanity at risk. Cooperation is key to positive outcomes. With international government coordination, we can build trustworthy AI that protects nations’ sovereignty and their people.
Most global industries, including civil aviation, maritime transport, and agriculture, adhere to international safety standards. These standards and the behind-the-scenes organizations that set them are what make it safe for us to fly in an airplane, for example, or eat an apple. When it comes to artificial intelligence, however, there is no global standard-setting organization to ensure that AI is deployed safely and used responsibly.
For years, artificial intelligence safety research has focused on accidental risks and unintended consequences. But what if AI models were demonstrating risks that weren’t accidental at all? What if the AI agents were being deliberately deceptive? This sounds like science fiction, but it’s not. To avoid being shut off, some AI models have lied, manipulated information, tried to replicate themselves, and even threatened blackmail.