“The Battle Royale of US-China Tech War: ‘Sovereign AI’ Enters the Fray!”

“‘Sovereign AI’ Has Become a New Front in the US-China Tech War”

“Our current trajectory suggests that AI development could become a superpower standoff. It doesn’t have to be.” According to the scholars of this article on Wired.

The concept is clearly stated and simply put, crème de la crème of human intelligence is engrossed in an ‘AI arms race’ that might be as nerve-racking as the Cold War. Could one ask for a more thrilling reality?

Enter OpenAI. It was established as an altruistic venture by Elon Musk and Sam Altman, saviors in shining armor, swooping in to ensure that AI does good for all and doesn’t end up being the personal plaything of a Dr. Evil-type character. It pledged to “use any influence…to avoid enabling uses of AI…that harm humanity or concentrate power unduly.” And perhaps some feathers out there glistening in the bright sunlight still seem to shimmer with a tincture of that initial idealism.

However, ambition isn’t a regret-free zone. The very lofty intention seems to have mellowed down with reality kicking in. OpenAI has walked a thin line recently with the development of text-generating AI software, GPT-3, and many fear that the democratization of such powerful technology could take an ugly turn. No surprise there, it’s almost as if creating incredibly powerful technology comes with its own set of ethical conundrums. Who would have thought?

The fears are not unfounded, of course. If AI can write novels, we’re not far from it scripting the next Avengers movie, and heaven knows we can’t allow any AI to ruin that franchise. More seriously though, misuse of this technology could range from generating hyper-realistic fake news to conducting AI-driven phishing attacks.

However, seen from a different lens, the rivalry between AI development in the US and China could force the world into a dilemma. It may seem like picking sides: do we want AI technology under the flag of Uncle Sam or the Great Red Dragon?

The narrative unfolding is quite a show, isn’t it? A stunning blockbuster about superpowers battling for control over technology, all under the pretext of doing what’s best for humanity. Stay tuned as the saga continues and don’t forget to bring popcorn, this might just get even more interesting.

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/openai-sovereign-ai-us-china-tech-war/