Poll: Should AI development be paused?

Recent weeks and months have seen growing levels of concern over the dangers posed by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.

In the latest high-profile intervention, so-called “godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton - whose pioneering research on neural networks paved the way for tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT - this week announced he was quitting his role at Google, warning that AI Chatbots could soon become more intelligent than humans.

This follows the publication of an open letter last month (March 2023) signed by thousands of researchers and engineers - including Elon Musk, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak - warning that the race to develop AI systems is out of control and calling for pause on the development of powerful AI systems for at least six months.

Amidst the many fears over the potentially negative impact of AI, one of the most pressing concerns is that it could soon replace many of the jobs currently performed by humans. In March, a report published by investment bank Goldman Sachs claimed that AI could lead to the loss of around 300 million full-time jobs whilst a study published by the world economic forum earlier this week (Monday 1^st May) based on a survey of more than 800 companies, suggests that 14 million jobs could be eliminated in the next five years, as organisations are reshaped by the digital revolution.  

In this week’s poll we’re asking for your view on the current AI arms race? Is it time for us to take a step back, a collective pause whilst we revaluate where the technology might be taking us, or should AI development be allowed to continue to advance at its current rate? Please cast your vote and, as always, expand on your views below. Perhaps you believe, as many do, that AI will create more opportunities than it removes and that responsible AI which benefits humanity remains within reach, or perhaps - as generations of  Hollywood scriptwriters and science fiction writers have argued – we’re all doomed.