Doomsday Clock Adjusted; AI Impact on Global Security Raises Concerns
Summary:
The "Doomsday Clock" was adjusted to stand only 90 seconds away from midnight, reflecting the globe's imminent risks, including AI. The Bulletin, which issues the clock, marked AI as a major concern after its impact grew in 2023. It stressed the potential threats from AI, including information corruption and changing the state of the physical world. Several nations, including China and the European Union, have started to regulate AI following its rising influence, while the US has established new safety and security standards. However, AI has been identified as a tool for authoritarian regimes to monitor citizens and manipulate information, leading to concerns ahead of the global election season in 2024.
The notorious "Doomsday Clock" was adjusted on January 23rd by nuclear scientists to echo the world's looming risk, standing merely 90 seconds away from midnight due to multiple factors, prominent among them being artificial intelligence (AI). The positioning of the clock is based on "existential threats" facing the globe and all of humanity, inclusive of nuclear hazards, weather fluctuations, and destabilizing technologies. The stroke of midnight on the clock signifies an "apocalyptic" situation, and this year, the 90-second mark has been identified as "a historical juncture filled with danger."
The Bulletin, the scientific publication which issues the Doomsday Clock, was formed in 1945 by renowned scientists such as Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer. After AI made a dramatic appearance in everyday society in 2023, it was introduced as a fresh source of worry. The Bulletin termed this technology as the "most momentous evolution" in the sphere of disruptive technology. "AI is unquestionably a prototype of disruptive technology. Any tangible threat from AI must be supported by a direct link to devices with the potential to alter the physical world's status," the Bulletin explained. It highlights the contamination of information, facilitated by AI, as a potential contributor to hindering the world from dealing with other pressing threats. The study also mentions AI's increasing military use and information operations.
It's noted that several nations have already begun to acknowledge these concerns and initiated steps to regulate and curb the detrimental effects of the technology. China became the forerunner in August 2023, by being the first country to implement efficient regulations for AI. The European Union followed suite in December 2023 by issuing tentative AI rules which member states could opt to adopt. The United States, which has seen significant growth as a hub for AI development over the previous year, has not yet enacted any formal law. In October 2023, President Joe Biden issued an executive order establishing six fresh standards for AI safety and security.
However, The Bulletin has also highlighted the role of AI and other informational technologies in hastening authoritarian regimes' capacity to monitor citizens' activities and freedoms. Warnings have been voiced on AI's potential influence on political elections through the spread of fabricated news and manipulation of information ahead of a major global election season in 2024.
Published At
1/24/2024 12:44:26 PM
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