Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has urged US lawmakers to implement regulations for the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) industry.
The creator of ChatGPT recently testified before a US Senate committee, addressing the potential impact and risks associated with AI technology.
At the hearing, Altman stressed the need for a new agency dedicated to licensing AI companies, considering the rapid introduction of several AI models into the market.
While AI systems like ChatGPT can generate human-like responses, they can also produce highly inaccurate information.
Altman acknowledged both the positive and negative impacts of AI, comparing its potential significance to that of the printing press.
Warns of potential risks
Addressing the Senate, Altman warned of the potential risks associated with AI technology, stating, "I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong ... we want to be vocal about that," and expressed the desire to collaborate with the government to prevent mishaps.
Altman also addressed the economic implications of AI, acknowledging the possibility of job displacement due to the adoption of AI technology.
He stressed the government's role in mitigating such impacts and expressed optimism about the quality of future jobs.
Proposed legislation
During the hearing, some senators raised concerns about the need for legislation facilitating legal action against OpenAI.
Altman highlighted his concerns regarding the potential impact of AI on democracy, particularly its ability to disseminate targeted misinformation during elections.
To regulate the industry, Altman proposed various measures for the new agency, including a combination of licensing and testing requirements for AI companies.
These measures would oversee the development and release of AI models beyond a certain threshold of capabilities.
Furthermore, he also advocated for independent audits of companies like OpenAI.
Bipartisan support for a regulatory body was evident from the testimonies, although legislators expressed concerns about the agency's ability to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology.
The consensus among senators was that it is crucial to strike a balance between maximising the benefits and minimising the drawbacks of AI, as Congress previously missed the opportunity to regulate social media effectively.