More than 1,300 experts came together to emphasize that Artificial intelligence (AI) is a force for good, not a threat to humanity. The open letter, organized by BCS, aims to combat the prevailing narrative of a bleak future due to AI.
Rashik Parmar, CEO of BCS, says this collective effort demonstrates that the UK tech community does not believe in the idea of “superior malevolent robots” as a nightmare scenario.
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Earlier this year, prominent leaders in the technology field, including Elon Musk, called for a pause in the development of AI systems, warning of the potential risks they pose. However, BCS experts have a more positive outlook on the matter.
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Who are these experts?
Signatories to the BCS letter represent a variety of backgrounds, including corporations, academia, public bodies and think tanks.
For example, Hema Purohit, who leads digital health and social care, highlights how AI enables early detection of serious illnesses, such as heart disease or diabetes, during eye exams.
Sarah Burnett, author of a book on AI and business, who also signed the letter, highlights uses of AI in agriculture, such as robots that use AI to pollinate plants or identify and eliminate weeds without resorting to wide-ranging herbicides spectrum.
Richard Carter, founder of an AI-powered cybersecurity startup, dismisses the alarming warnings as unrealistic. He believes that the idea that AI poses a threat to human existence is fanciful and that such a scenario is currently impossible.
Next steps
The letter argues that the UK can lead the way in setting professional and technical standards for roles related to AI, supported by a robust code of conduct, international collaboration and well-established regulation structured.
In doing so, Britain can become a global example of high-quality, ethical and inclusive AI.
Signatories agree that regulations are needed to prevent misuse of AI. Hema Purohit emphasizes the need for rules to ensure proper testing, governance and assurance in the development of AI technologies.
In the autumn, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will host a global summit on AI regulation, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of responsible and well-regulated deployment of the tool.
