Artificial Intelligence poses a human-extinction risk equally dangerous as a nuclear war, tech leaders warn.

One danger is that it could undermine the fabric of our society because people no longer will be able to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not. The effects on the 2024 presidential election may be profound.

The late, legendary physicist Stephen Hawking shared this ominous warning: “Success in creating effective AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization. Or the worst. We just don’t know. So we cannot know if we will be infinitely helped by AI, or ignored by it and side-lined, or conceivably destroyed by it.”

In March, more than 1,000 technology leaders and researchers working in AI signed an open letter warning that AI technologies present “profound risks to society and humanity,” according to The New York Times. Many of the leaders appeared before a Senate subcommittee hearing on May 16, and they all were in agreement that regulations were needed before it is too late.

Meanwhile, AI recently grabbed our attention. It’s vital that we know what it is, and that we respect and fear its capabilities.

That’s because ChatGPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) released an AI chatbot in November. That triggered a new global race in AI that involves Microsoft, Google and other tech giants that are desperately trying to catch up. (An AI chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the internet.)

The rapid growth of ChatGPT has been shocking, whether you are asking it simple or complicated questions. In addition, a newer, more powerful version of ChatGPT has just been released — and it shows early signs of developing something like human reasoning.

AI is a fast-growing field of technology that is transforming the way we live and work. From self-driving cars to voice assistants, AI is already a part of our daily lives, and its potential applications are nearly limitless.

It can process vast amounts of data, learn from experience and make predictions and decisions based on that data. As AI evolves, it has the potential to bring many benefits to the human race, such as improving health care, transportation and communication systems, as well as making work more efficient and less repetitive.

AI’s knowledge base seems to have no boundaries. AI has the ability to transform educational systems at all levels. Almost 30% of college students already use ChatGPT, mainly to research and write term papers and more — even for poetry. AI is now outperforming human test scores on SAT, ACT, LSAT and MCAT exams. It can have conversations on almost any topic, generate lyrics in the style, for example, of Taylor Swift or Billy Joel, and suggest edits to computer programming code.

ChatGPT can write resumes, compose song lyrics and poetry, and plan a party or an event. AI can translate written material such as reports and term papers into Spanish and other languages. It’ll even tell you what to pack for a vacation or what to wear or do on a first date and so much more.

Besides showing early signs of something like human reasoning, experts fear AI could become sentient, which could enable it to think, feel and perceive the physical world around it, just as humans do.

Geoffrey Hinton, who’s considered the godfather of AI, caused a stir when he announced his resignation from Google, saying he regretted his work in developing AI. Other experts also are speaking out about AI’s negative side.

Extreme risks will include job displacement and the concentration of power in the hands of a few entities that will create an imbalance in society and pose extreme risk to our democratic principles.

A new report from Goldman Sachs forecasted that AI could eventually replace a quarter of the full-time jobs in the United States and Europe.

Other risks include the expansion of existing human biases, privacy concerns, surveillance potential, the danger of overuse of facial recognition capabilities and the ability to process large amounts of information, which can have significant privacy risks. AI also can create smart systems that threaten our electrical grid, finance industry, our elections and so much more.

This may sound grim, but all is not lost. AI has huge potential for positive results as well.

AI is in the beginning stages where we can spot lung cancer faster than any other existing method and also can predict pancreatic cancer three years earlier than current technology.

The Biden administration recently announced steps, including $140 million in new research efforts, to promote responsible AI innovation and to protect people’s rights and safety.

Scientists warn of AI’s dangers and not all agree on the solutions.

ChatGPT provided some solutions to AI-created problems:

Both the tech industry and Congress agree that regulations on the development of more AI are needed soon.

Now is the time to:

• Develop AI responsibility and encourage transparency, accountability and ethical considerations in AI research and development.

• Promote AI education and retooling: Invest in education and training programs that equip individuals with skills needed for jobs in an AI-driven economy.

• Address bias and discrimination: Implement guidelines and regulations to ensure AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that minimize bias and promote fairness.

• Strengthen data privacy: Establish a robust data protection framework and encourage the development of privacy-preserving AI technology.

• Establish international cooperation: Foster global collaboration on AI policy and regulation to address shared risk and ensure benefits are distributed equitably.

By addressing these concerns, we can work to ensure that AI develops in a way that is beneficial and safe for society.

Ultimately, AI’s impact on people will depend on how it is developed, deployed and regulated. By ensuring that AI is developed in a responsible and ethical manner, and that its benefits are distributed fairly, we can maximize the potential benefits of this technology while minimizing its risks.

Hinton, the godfather of AI, gets the final word: “Humanity’s survival is threatened when smart things can outsmart us.”

Jim Martin can be reached at jimmartinesq@gmail.com.