ChatGPT-maker OpenAI‘s Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane is reportedly very upset with all AI doomers. For those unaware, AI doomers are those who believe that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence pose an existential, extinction-level threat to humanity. In an interview with The San Francisco Standard, he termed such conversations around AI irresponsible. “Some of the conversation out there is not necessarily responsible,” he told The Standard. Likely pointing out at the recent attack at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s house and OpenAI office, he said, “And when you put some of those thoughts and ideas out there, they do have consequences.”“Our job at OpenAI and in the AI space — and we need to do a much better job — is to explain to people why … this is going to be really good for them, for their families and for society writ large,” he said.
“Americans and Europeans dread AI more than others”
Lehane points to research that has shown that the more people use AI, the more they believe it can have a positive impact on their lives. And here the ones who are most bullish of all are the power users. OpenAI executives also said that it is Americans and Europeans who are more afraid of AI than the rest of the world. “Outside the US and Europe, people tend to be much more optimistic about AI,” he said. He added, “What’s the old FDR line?” he said. “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.”
‘AI fear is understandable, but right now borders on extremity’
Lehane said that he understands that people are worried about AI. He said, “It is understandable, they believe it might take their jobs, harm their kids, and raise their electricity bills. He compared the tension to conflicts that followed earlier technological leaps forward, like the invention of the printing press.” He said all the negative noise and scenarios pained do not help and that the AI industry has made a habit of foreboding pronouncements. “You’ve had a series of things that have been put out there — but haven’t come to fruition — about extreme things that are going to happen,” Lehane said.What Lehane wants people to believe is that AI can enhance their lives in a number of ways. This includes whether by improving medical treatment or making their jobs easier. He said that there are two divergent views of AI and both at extremes. You have one group that effectively says, ‘This is going to be the greatest thing ever, everyone’s going to be living in beachside homes, painting in watercolors as they spend their days.’ And then you have another extreme, which I would call the Doomers, who have a very, very negative and dark view of humanity.” Neither group, Lehane said, offers much in the way of a solution to the very real problems AI presents. An OpenAI white paper published last week, which Lehane said the company has been working on since last year, delves into ways he thinks AI can “create incredible economic opportunities” for people beyond the tech industry. These include an enhanced social safety net and worker-led organizations that provide entrepreneurs with AI tools and skills. However, what Lehane may be forgetting is that some of these ideas echoed previous proposals, including from CEO Sam Altman. When OpenAI announced its ambitious AI infrastructure plan last year, it said it would create economic development zones and give local governments free access to AI resources. So far, that hasn’t happened and with the way Compute has become a sought-after commodity it is very unlikely to happen.
