Former Google head Eric Schmidt is worried artificial intelligence could be used to create “a bad biological attack from some evil person” if the technology falls into the wrong hands.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned artificial intelligence (AI) could have serious consequences for society if the technology falls into the wrong hands.
The tech billionaire – who headed up Google from 2001 to 2015 – admitted he was concerned machine-learning algorithms could pose “extreme risks” to innocent people if terrorists or “rogue states” chose to utilise the technology for nefarious purposes.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Schmidt said: “Think about North Korea, or Iran, or even Russia, who have some evil goal. This technology is fast enough for them to adopt that they could misuse it and do real harm.”
The tech boss added AI systems could be used to create “a bad biological attack from some evil person”, such as terrorist Osama bin Laden, who organised the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City – which killed thousands of American citizens.
He explained: “I’m always worried about the ‘Osama Bin Laden’ scenario, where you have some truly evil person who takes over some aspect of our modern life and uses it to harm innocent people.”
Schmidt emphasised governments needed to closely regulate the development of machine-learning softwares.
He said: “The truth is that AI and the future is largely going to be built by private companies. Governments must understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us.
“We’re not arguing that we should unilaterally be able to do these things without oversight, we think it should be regulated.”
The ex-Google boss added large tech companies “did not understand 15 years ago” the potential of AI, but do now.
He said: “My experience with the tech leaders is that they do have an understanding of the impact they’re having, but they might make a different values judgment than the government would make.”
AI could spark ‘Osama bin Laden scenario’, ex-Google boss warns
