“DeepMind’s CEO Predicts a Future of Altruistic Humans, Thanks to the Magic of AI”
“Google DeepMind’s CEO Thinks AI Will Make Humans Less Selfish”
“Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, thinks AI will make us better as a species. Fewer mistakes, less waste, and less selfishness, thanks to the ways in which technology can heighten our cognitive potential.”
Ah yes, one wonders what the world would be like if social media managers were being tasked to craft witty retorts for naughty machines rather than human readers. Such is the vision of Google DeepMind’s CEO, Demis Hassabis. He seems to believe that our future overlords, er, AI systems, will serve as society’s do-gooders, realigning our self-centered tendencies toward a more utilitarian paradigm.
There’s no arguing that the man’s got brains to burn – he was a child chess prodigy turned neuroscientist turned AI entrepreneur before Google snapped up his company. But one couldn’t help but chuckle at his almost naive optimism on the rosy future that AI promises. His belief? Fewer mistakes, less wastage, and most surprisingly, less selfishness. That’s right; our machine-created utopia will rid us of our mortal flaws.
The rationale? AI’s propensity towards efficiency. AI systems aren’t known for taking extra smoke breaks or scrolling aimlessly through Instagram. Therefore, according to the Hassabis School of Thought, they’d analyze and strategize for an optimal, more selfless world, freeing us from our instinctual shackles of greed and envy. Isn’t that convenient?
Hassabis’ viewpoint is undeniably fascinating, presenting a picture of man and machine fusing in a beautiful synchrony of productivity and selflessness. However, there’s a stark difference between a neuroscientist’s dream and reality. In the real world, it’d be more prudent to remember that the blending of man and machine is still a work in progress. Let’s just hope these machines are programmed to have a sense of humility. We wouldn’t want them bragging about their chess accomplishments, now would we?