Coming Wave

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Cofounder of DeepMind, Mustafa Suleyman, issues a stark warning about the unprecedented risks posed by rapidly advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. We are on the brink of a transformative era where AIs will manage complex tasks, from running businesses to maintaining infrastructure, alongside innovations like DNA printers and autonomous weapons. This shift represents a significant leap in human capability, yet we are unprepared for its implications. Suleyman, deeply embedded in this technological revolution, asserts that the next decade will be shaped by these powerful tools, which, while offering solutions to global challenges and creating immense wealth, also threaten to disrupt the very fabric of society. He argues that these developments jeopardize the foundational agreements of nation-states, leading to a precarious situation where unchecked technological openness could lead to unprecedented harms, while excessive surveillance poses its own dangers. In this groundbreaking work, Suleyman introduces "the containment problem," emphasizing the urgent need to maintain control over these powerful technologies. He challenges us to navigate the fine line between potential catastrophe and dystopia, as we confront the existential dilemmas of our time.