From Motherboard:
Forget about
superintelligent AIs being created by a company, university, or a rogue
programmer with Einstein-like IQ. Hollywood and its AI-themed movies
like Transcendence and Her
have misled the public. The launch of the first truly autonomous,
self-aware artificial intelligence—one that has the potential to become
far smarter than human beings—is a matter of the highest national and
global security. Its creation could change the landscape of
international politics in a matter of weeks—maybe even days, depending
on how fast the intelligence learns to upgrade itself, hack and rewrite
the world's best codes, and utilize weaponry.
"As the 2016 US Presidential candidate for the Transhumanist Party..."
In the last year, a chorus of leading technology experts,
like Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, and Bill Gates, have chimed in on the
dangers regarding the creation of AI. The idea of a superintelligence on
Planet Earth dwarfing the capacity of our own brains is daunting. Will
this creation like its creators? Will it embrace human morals? Will it
become religious? Will it be peaceful or warlike? The questions are
innumerable and the answers are all debatable, but one thing is for sure
from a national security perspective: If it's smarter than us, we want
it to be on our side—the human race's side.
Now take that one step further, and I'm certain another theme regarding
AI is just about to emerge—one bound with nationalistic fervor and
patriotism. Politicians and military commanders around the world will
want this superintelligent machine-mind for their countries and
defensive forces. And they'll want it exclusively. Using AI's potential
power and might for national security strategy is more than obvious—it's
essential to retain leadership in the future world. Inevitably, a
worldwide AI arms race is set to begin.
As the 2016 US Presidential candidate for the Transhumanist Party, I
don't mind going out on a limb and saying the obvious: I also want AI to
belong exclusively to America. Of course, I would hope to share the
nonmilitary benefits and wisdom of a superintelligence with the world,
as America has done for much of the last century with its groundbreaking
innovation and technology. But can you imagine for a moment if AI was
developed and launched in, let's say, North Korea, or Iran, or
increasingly authoritarian Russia? What if another national power told
that superintelligence to break all the secret codes and classified
material that America's CIA and NSA use for national security? What if
this superintelligence was told to hack into the mainframe computers
tied to nuclear warheads, drones, and other dangerous weaponry? What if
that superintelligence was told to override all traffic lights, power
grids, and water treatment plants in Europe? Or Asia? Or everywhere in
the world except for its own country? The possible danger is
overwhelming....MORE
