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Artificial intelligence
ChinaDiplomacy
Josephine Ma
Josephine Ma

Opinion | AI technology is in dire need of a guiding philosophy

  • While tools such as ChatGPT have potential to improve lives, they also pose risk of military AI arms race and other ethical challenges
  • Former US diplomat Henry Kissinger and leading computer scientists among high-profile figures warning about pitfalls of artificial intelligence

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The popularity of tools such as ChatGPT has drawn attention to the risks and challenges of AI. Photo: Shutterstock
Josephine Ma
As a diplomat, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger witnessed and was personally involved in many turning points in history. But in recent years, the famous statesman, who turned 100 over the weekend, has turned his attention to the futuristic problems posed by artificial intelligence.

In his 2021 book The Age of AI, co-written with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and computer scientist Daniel Huttenlocher, Kissinger pointed out the unique challenges of the AI era compared to previous stages of human history, such as the enlightenment or the more recent internet age.

For instance, AI is inherently unpredictable as it improves itself though data and algorithms, and it can make decisions based on vast amounts of information at speeds the human mind cannot comprehend.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has warned of a possible AI arms race. Photo: AP
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has warned of a possible AI arms race. Photo: AP

According to Kissinger, that means decisions made by AI – and the rationale behind them – may at some point become a mystery to humankind. The technology will have an enormous influence on how we perceive reality, giving it the potential to become one of the most important shapers of human perception, much like reason and religion.

The book also warned about a potential AI arms race and called for talks between governments to limit the proliferation of military AI.

While some may dismiss these concerns as paranoia, many others are gaining awareness of the potential pitfalls of the technology thanks to ChatGPT, the popular AI tool that has grabbed headlines since its launch late last year.

Tools such as ChatGPT can generate text that is so convincing they worry experts including Pentagon AI chief Craig Martell, who said in early May that he was “scared to death” that bad actors could use them for misinformation.
Kissinger is not alone in his reservations about artificial intelligence. Computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, sometimes called “the godfather of AI”, has warned of the dangers of the technology, including its potential to spread misinformation and the possibility it could exceed humans in intelligence. He quit his position at Google recently so he could speak more freely on the technology.
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