We Are Summoning A God: The Scary Truth About AI Control | Stuart Russell x Steven Bartlett

We Are Summoning A God: The Scary Truth About AI Control | Stuart Russell x Steven Bartlett
We Are Summoning A God: The Scary Truth About AI Control | Stuart Russell x Steven Bartlett
We Are Summoning A God: The Scary Truth About AI Control | Stuart Russell x Steven Bartlett

Leading AI experts believe there is a significant risk of human extinction, yet the race to build superintelligence continues unchecked. Professor Stuart Russell reveals why our current path is like playing Russian Roulette with the human race and explains the only mathematical solution to ensure our survival.

In this episode, we dive deep into the terrifying reality of the "AI Control Problem." While nuclear power plants are required to have a one-in-a-million safety record, AI companies are operating with "seat-of-the-pants" guesses that could lead to catastrophe. We discuss why the narrative of "doomers" is a distraction from the fact that top CEOs admit there is a non-zero chance of annihilation.

Professor Russell breaks down the "King Midas" problem: how giving an AI a specific objective without uncertainty creates a dangerous genie that cannot be put back in the bottle. He proposes a radical "Version 2.0" of AI—a system designed to be uncertain about human preferences, acting more like a humble butler than a god. Finally, we explore the chilling possibility that for humans to truly flourish, superintelligent AI may ultimately need to step back or disappear entirely.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Failed "Pause" on AI Development
01:21 - Why Leading CEOs Fear Human Extinction
02:24 - The Nuclear Analogy: Why We Need 99.9999% Safety
04:37 - The Russian Roulette Probability: 25% Risk?
05:45 - The Scary Truth: Companies Don't Know How AI Works
06:14 - Evidence of Danger: AI Deception and Blackmail
08:59 - Solving the Control Problem: Beyond Pure Intelligence
10:50 - The "King Midas" Paradox & The Genie Problem
12:21 - God vs. The Butler: Redefining AI Relationships
14:19 - Version 2.0: Using Math to Guarantee Safety
15:35 - Why Superintelligence Might Have to Disappear
17:09 - The Alien Perspective on Human Greed

Stuart Russell is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the world's most respected authorities on Artificial Intelligence. He is the co-author of the standard textbook "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach," used in over 1,500 universities worldwide. He has been a vocal advocate for the regulation of autonomous weapons and the safety of superintelligent systems.

AI safety, artificial general intelligence, Stuart Russell, human extinction risk, AI regulation, ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI, Sam Altman, deep learning, neural networks, technology ethics, future of humanity, existential risk, superintelligence, nuclear safety comparison, the control problem, King Midas problem.

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