AI can achieve extraordinary new things, says Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg has written a reflective essay on the impact of AI.
Mark Zuckerberg has backed AI to "create and discover extraordinary new things".
The billionaire businessman - who is the CEO of Meta - has written an essay to outline his long-term view of AI, stressing that the positives of the technology far outweigh the negatives.
Zuckerberg wrote on the Meta website: "We are fortunate to live at an incredible moment in history.
"In the next few years, people will be able to use superintelligence beyond human capacity to create and discover extraordinary new things, build new businesses, express new ideas, learn new concepts, and advance our health and quality of life.
"As we get closer to this moment, it is important to develop a philosophy for how we can best use superintelligence to ensure it improves all of our lives, work, communities, freedom and safety.
"The defining questions of our age are who will have access to superintelligence and what will we direct it towards."
Zuckerberg acknowledged that AI creates "opportunities and challenges", and he stressed that the challenges need to be taken "very seriously".
The Meta boss explained: "The notion that AI is so dangerous that the only safe path is an extreme concentration of power seems inherently problematic. Historically, hoping that an absolute power will benevolently provide for humanity if sufficiently enlightened has not led to safe or positive outcomes.
"Humanity has witnessed many transformative advances. Each time there is fear that people will be left behind. But each time humanity has come out with more people sharing greater prosperity, health, and freedom. We believe this will be true with AI as well, and the abundance of the future can be shared by everyone."
Zuckerberg is broadly upbeat about the long-term impact of AI, suggesting that it could be key to a "positive future" if used appropriately.
He wrote: "We also believe that the values that got us to this point — like liberty, open inquiry, free enterprise, and equal opportunity — are also the right values to build a positive future.
"Putting power in people’s hands to pursue their own aspirations is how humanity has made the most progress."
