OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has testified before the Senate, calling for oversight and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa provides updates on Altman’s testimony and the discussions surrounding AI’s impact.
During the hearing, generative AI has been compared to groundbreaking inventions such as the first cell phone, the internet, the industrial revolution, the printing press, and the atomic bomb.
The stakes are high, and the tone of the discussions has been more collaborative compared to the contentious debates around social media and big tech.
Lawmakers and Sam Altman appear to be aligned in their views, emphasizing the need for regulation and guardrails.
Altman believes that safe development of AI requires a combination of responsible actions by companies, government regulation, and public education.
He draws a parallel to the introduction of Photoshop, where people initially struggled to distinguish between fake and real images, but gradually learned to identify the difference.
Altman suggests that generative AI will present similar challenges but on a larger scale.
The impact of AI on jobs has also been a topic of discussion.
Senator Blumenthal expresses concerns about job loss due to AI, calling it his biggest nightmare.
Altman, however, remains optimistic, stating that while AI systems like ChatGPT are proficient at specific tasks, they are not designed to replace entire jobs.
He believes that the advent of AI will create more job opportunities in the future.
Regarding the contours of potential legislation, Bosa notes that it remains unclear at this stage.
The ramifications of AI are significant, and it is crucial to establish clear guardrails and determine which platforms are governed by generative AI or ChatGPT.
The current challenge lies in formulating legislation that addresses the unique characteristics of AI technology.
Unlike the reactive approach of the past decade, this stage represents the early to middle stages of developing comprehensive AI legislation.
The discussions revolve around understanding the nature of generative AI, its potential impact on jobs, and its relationship with other platforms.
As the testimony continues, stakeholders are grappling with the complexities of regulating AI effectively and ensuring its responsible development in a rapidly advancing technological landscape.
