We need to prevent a global AI arms race now

Unlike the nuclear arms race, the AI one is not confined to the military arena.

Left unchecked, the AI arms race could usher in weapons and modes of warfare that are not only more efficient, but also with less human oversight, say the writers. PHOTO: REUTERS
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In July, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres suggested the establishment of an international artificial intelligence (AI) agency to govern the use of the technology.

This is similar to the establishment of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957 over concerns about nuclear weapons, and the suggestion prompted many to consider the parallels between the ongoing “AI arms race” and the nuclear arms race during the Cold War.

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