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by bridge_ro 3215 days ago
There's an AI researcher named Robert Miles [1] whose videos I really enjoy. He brought up a good point about this issue in one of his videos a little while back. To use it here, Elon Musk, Putin, and Mark Zuckerberg all have something in common: none of them are AI specialists or researchers. Another way to think of it is this: don't ask your dentist about your heart disease.

Miles does point out very real issues/questions in AI safety – that's what most of his content is focused on. His point, which is a good one to make, is that the sort of fear mongering spread by non-AI specialists draws attention away from these very real issues that need to be addressed.

[1] His channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLB7AzTwc6VFZrBsO2ucBMg He's also done a few videos for Computerphile.

3 comments

On the contrary, these are precisely the kinds of people who are using AI as a tool or building block, eg as a means to an end. Researchers inherently have a very narrow view.
It's easy to believe the AI threat if you believe AI is a panacea.
> To use it here, Elon Musk, Putin, and Mark Zuckerberg all have something in common: none of them are AI specialists or researchers

They are the ones that can use or be hit by "AI" as a weapon. Their position is even more important than the researchers. It is like Einstein vs Truman.