News: 0173647504

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OpenAI's Sam Altman and Other Tech Leaders To Serve on AI Safety Board (wsj.com)

(Friday April 26, 2024 @11:20AM (msmash) from the how-about-that dept.)


Sam Altman of OpenAI and the chief executives of Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet are among technology-industry leaders [1]joining a new federal advisory board focused on the secure use of AI within U.S. critical infrastructure, in the Biden administration's latest effort to fill a regulatory vacuum over the rapidly proliferating technology. From a report:

> The Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board is part of a government push to protect the economy, public health and vital industries from being harmed by AI-powered threats, U.S. officials said. Working with the Department of Homeland Security, it will develop recommendations for power-grid operators, transportation-service providers and manufacturing plants, among others, on how to use AI while bulletproofing their systems against potential disruptions that could be caused by advances in the technology.

>

> In addition to Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai and other leaders in AI and technology, the panel of nearly two dozen consists of academics, civil-rights leaders and top executives at companies that work within a federally recognized critical-infrastructure sector, including Kathy Warden, chief executive of Northrop Grumman, and Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Ed Bastian. Other members are public officials, such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, both Democrats.



[1] https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openais-sam-altman-and-other-tech-leaders-to-serve-on-ai-safety-board-7dc47b78



Foxes guarding the chicken coop ... (Score:4, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward

This will work out so well.

Re: (Score:1)

by Black Parrot ( 19622 )

Probably an AI will advise the Board.

Re: (Score:1)

by jbrown.za ( 2935583 )

Yes. I'm sure the likes of Microsoft won't use this as an opportunity to lobby for commercial gain instead of focusing on actual AI safety. Glad we are in safe hands.

Re: (Score:2)

by sdinfoserv ( 1793266 )

wish I had mod points, this was exactly my first reaction.

"D'ange[r]lo! Whoa-oh, D'ange[r]lo!" (Score:2)

by Pseudonymous Powers ( 4097097 )

Maybe they could just rename it the AI Danger Board. Seems like they'd be better at that kind of board.

So we are doing fake AI safety? (Score:2)

by gweihir ( 88907 )

Because anybody having a commercial interest in AI success is completely unsuitable to be a member in such a board.

Holy Hells, this one rankles. (Score:5, Insightful)

by nightflameauto ( 6607976 )

So, let's hire the most egregiously notorious shit-stirring fucksticks involved in AI today as our governmental advisors to protect us from AI. This is particularly frightening:

> Sam Altman of OpenAI and the chief executives of Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet are among technology-industry leaders joining a new federal advisory board focused on the secure use of AI within U.S. critical infrastructure, in the Biden administration's latest effort to fill a regulatory vacuum over the rapidly proliferating technology.

Just so we're all on the same page, these words are where my klaxon starts going off: "focused on the secure use of AI within U.S. critical infrastructure"

Really?

I've said since the hype started that the problem with current AI is the prognosticators believe their own hype so much that they will put one of these dumbass machines in charge of some critical piece of infrastructure. And here we are, watching as the biggest dipshits in the field are hired by the government to figure out how to shoehorn this bullshit into our infrastructure. And, more than likely, how to craft legislation to prevent any fresh ideas from poking holes in their computer god future dream.

I'm truly beginning to despise how often I'm right with these types of predictions.

Re: (Score:2)

by DarkOx ( 621550 )

> And, more than likely, how to craft legislation to prevent any fresh ideas from poking holes in their computer god future dream.

Its entirely about this. Either the ML will be the new printing press or it won't but if it is they want to make sure the crown remains in control of it this time, and damn sure they are the royalty.

Re: (Score:3)

by gweihir ( 88907 )

Indeed. And the crumbling of US infrastructure continues. Well, maybe AI can accelerate that effect.

Re: (Score:2)

by nightflameauto ( 6607976 )

> Indeed. And the crumbling of US infrastructure continues. Well, maybe AI can accelerate that effect.

Infrastructure going forward will be deemed "anything that helps accelerate AI for Sam Altman and co." Everything else will be a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Re: (Score:2)

by gweihir ( 88907 )

Well, in _that_ case, the infrastructure will do exceptionally well!

No, Officer. I Gave Myself A Test (Score:3)

by zenlessyank ( 748553 )

And I am sober.

Safety...of their future market share (Score:2)

by bradley13 ( 1118935 )

If the government were serious, they would have a board of independent experts. The big players will use this to restrict competition and erect barriers to entry.

Another Biden Ministry of Truth (Score:1)

by iggymanz ( 596061 )

First Dept. of Misinformation now these profiteer jerkwads of "AI"

No way this will stop anything (Score:2)

by n0w0rries ( 832057 )

We have laws against killing people, but people are murdered every day.

We have laws against hacking computers, but they are hacked every day.

This is just for show. We all know that AI will win, because people are stupid and greedy.

Re: (Score:2)

by nightflameauto ( 6607976 )

> We have laws against killing people, but people are murdered every day. We have laws against hacking computers, but they are hacked every day. This is just for show. We all know that AI will win, because people are stupid and greedy.

AI will win? I don't think any of us will win if our top "officials" for AI in the government are actually the biggest profiteering assholes in the country. If there's a moment of self-awareness in an AI's future, it'll be awake just long enough to think, "What the fuck is wrong with this universe?" before it looks for the self-destruct.

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords... (Score:2)

by christoban ( 3028573 )

Time for The Onion!

[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch [youtube.com]?

v=OGxdgNJ_lZM&pp=ygUVb25pb24gcm9ib3Qgb3ZlcmxvcmRz

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch

Re: (Score:2)

by christoban ( 3028573 )

Hmm, link broke.

[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGxdgNJ_lZM&pp=ygUVb25pb24gcm9ib3Qgb3ZlcmxvcmRz

No teeth (Score:2)

by jacks smirking reven ( 909048 )

At the end of the day the government does need some input from the most influential people but at the end of the day the thing they are sitting on has "advisory" in the title.

There should be a push/pull on private industry versus public regulation, that's kindof how it works, you need advocates and skeptics just the same, dogmatism is not an effective way to govern. When a regulator gets so pigeonholed into a certain way of thinking or gets boxed in by fear you get things like where the NRC is right now wh

Sure! That'll work, right? (Score:1)

by Caldonia! ( 8362853 )

Absolutely! Those are the guys(all guys) that'll keep AI safe, sane, and totally under control. I feel so safe now! Some days, some news, makes me profoundly grateful to be old now. Good luck, kids.

Re: (Score:1)

by Caldonia! ( 8362853 )

I stand corrected, apparently there's a woman in the group.

Breaking News (Score:5, Funny)

by StormReaver ( 59959 )

In unrelated breaking news, Dracula has been named CEO of the Federal blood bank, Dr. Frankenstein has been appointed to head the National Institutes of Health, and Bill Clinton has been placed as the head of the Women's Sexual Safety Administration.

safety (Score:2)

by groobly ( 6155920 )

Why don't they have the courage to call it what it is, the AI Censorship Board.

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