The Shaping of AI Policy: How Silicon Valley's Influence Alters Britain's Approach
Britain's initial stance on AI was relaxed, but it has shifted due to concerns about AI's "existential risks."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is now taking AI safety seriously, announcing an international AI Safety Summit and setting up an AI safety taskforce.
The shift is influenced by the "
Effective Altruism" movement
, which originated in Oxford University and is supported by Silicon Valley elites.
Effective altruists believe that super-intelligent AI could either lead to utopia or annihilation, and they advocate for long-term AI policies.
Key government advisers in the UK are sympathetic to the Effective Altruism movement's concerns.
Tech investor Ian Hogarth warned about the dangers of pursuing "God-like AI," gaining widespread attention.
Several organizations with ties to Effective Altruism have partnered with the UK's Foundation Model Taskforce.
There are concerns that Effective Altruism's influence could lead to regulatory capture.
Some researchers believe that the focus on existential risks could distract from the immediate ethical concerns of AI, such as bias and data privacy.
The movement's close ties to Silicon Valley raise questions about its objectivity and independence.
Read More Stories
7 AI Tools for Finance Teams in 2023