We could have true AI by 2028 and then start World War 3 if were not careful

As Artificial Intelligence continues to advance it's only a matter of time before most of us are out of work, a leading AI researcher says. And the best way to deal with the turmoil caused might be to put the robots in charge

Michael Moran Audience Writer

15:43, 29 Dec 2023Updated 15:44, 29 Dec 2023

Ben says he's optimistic about the long-term future, but sees some significant hurdles in the coming decade(Image: Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal)

One of the leading authorities on Artificial Intelligence has predicted that a super intelligence far in advance of the human mind will be build within five to 15 years. But computer scientist Ben Goertzel says there could be significant dangers as a result.

Ben, who coined the term Artificial General Intelligence [AGI] to describe an AI that can think for itself told the Theories of Everything podcast that the economic turmoil created by the next generation of AI could have dire consequences.

Suppose you get early stage AGI that eliminates the need for most human labour. The developed world will probably give universal basic income to its citizens after a bunch of political wrangling."

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A true Artificial Intelligence would completely change the way we live(Image: Getty Images)

But what happens in the developing world?" Ben says. "Who gives universal basic income in the Central African Republic? Its it's not especially clear.

He says that once the global economy is dominated by artificial intelligence, the seeds will be planted for massive unrest and even a major conflict: Maybe the Africans go back to subsistence farming but youve got certainly the makings for a lot of terrorist action and there's a lot of World War III scenarios there.

The best way to offset that danger, he suggests, is building an Artificial Super-Intelligence thats advanced enough to replace all the worlds governments but doing that too quickly that carries its own set of risks.

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The answer to the dilemma could be an AI-powered world government, Ben says(Image: Instagram/bengoertzel)

Ben says: The best way to to increase the odds that your super-intelligence is benevolent is to not take it too fast but at least at least pace it a little bit so the super intelligence is carefully studying each self-modification before it puts it into place.

But, he says, if anyone were to own that super-intelligence, they could effectively take over the world: Im doing my best to make it such that when this happens it's more like [open-source operating system] Linux or the internet than like [Apples] OSX or T-Mobiles mobile network.

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He says that even having a decentralised super-intelligence is no guarantee of a positive income. But I just think its less obviously going to go south in a nasty way than if one company or government owns it.

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