According to a leading AI pioneer, the federal government needs to take action soon to regulate artificial intelligence because the technology’s current course presents serious hazards to society.
The “godfather” of artificial intelligence, Yoshua Bengio, urged lawmakers in Ottawa on Monday that legislation should be implemented right away, even if it isn’t flawless.
Within the next two decades, or possibly a few years, a “superhuman” intelligence with human-level intelligence may be developed, according to the scientific head of Mila, the Quebec AI Institute.
“We’re not prepared,” stated Bengio.
He stated that using deepfake videos to disseminate misinformation is one immediate issue associated with AI. Artificial intelligence is used in these videos to create the illusion that a popular figure is saying or doing something they never did.
Additionally, Bengio stated that the technology can be used to communicate with people via text or conversation “in a way that can fool a social media user and make them change their mind on political questions.”
“There’s real concern about use of AI in politically oriented ways that go against the principles of our democracy.”
The concern is that, in a year or two, more sophisticated systems might be exploited for cyberattacks.
AI programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
“When these systems get strong enough to defeat our current cyber defences and our industrial digital infrastructure, we are in trouble,” Bengio stated.
“Especially if these systems fall in the wrong hands.”
