Sam Altman’s remarks at the United Nations Security Council
Today, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the United Nations Security Council on artificial intelligence. He discussed AI’s potential to expand opportunity, the importance of keeping powerful systems under human control, and the need for international cooperation on AI safety.
TL;DR
- AI has the potential to usher in a new era of creativity and discovery, or cause upheaval and disarray.
- AI should empower individuals by giving them more agency, ability to learn, create, and participate.
- Risks include AI moving faster than human institutions, concentrating power, and losing human control, especially with recursive self-improvement.
- Companies should not prioritize competitive pace over safety, and must ensure AI systems remain under human control.
- AI benefits should be shared broadly, not concentrated in the hands of a few.
- OpenAI's principles: people at the center of AI decision-making, benefits for people, and empowering individuals.
- AI can advance discovery in fields like medicine, education, and economics, evidenced by solving complex math problems.
- Decisions about AI must be shaped through democratic processes and international cooperation is crucial for setting standards.
- There is a need for international standards on measuring AI capabilities, assessing risks, and ensuring human oversight.
- The future of AI should be guided by democratic institutions, with progress improving real lives and empowering individuals and communities.