Tesla CEO calls AI a risk for human civilisation

Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned US governors that artificial intelligence (AI) ‘is a fundamental existential risk for human civilisation’, and called for precautionary and proactive government intervention. In Musk’s words, ‘AI is a rare case where we need to be proactive about regulation instead of reactive. Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it’s too late’. This is not the first time when Musk issues such warnings on the possible dangers of what researchers call ‘general AI’ (complex AI systems that can replicate humans’ intellectual capability). But there are voices criticising him for such views, as they are seen as distracting attention from challenges related to the current ‘narrow AI’ already in use in areas such as self-driving cars.