OpenAI boss Sam Altman has claimed that the use of AI is “non-negotiable”, comparing the technology’s importance to that of electricity.
Speaking at the G20 Innovation Ministerial meeting in North Carolina on Wednesday, Mr Altman predicted that artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT will create “the greatest entrepreneurial explosion” in history.
“Many of you are going to take very different approaches to how you regulate AI, how you welcome it into your country, how you use it. But for sure, I think it is non-negotiable that you have to use it,” he said.
“The economic growth and benefit to people that can come from this, the value to a country, is too high to ignore.
“Electricity also came with some complexities, and it took a little while to figure out how to make it safe... It would be hard for society to function well without electricity at this point.”
Other AI leaders at the meeting in Chapel Hill included Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, who joined delegates in person, as well as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis and SpaceXAI chief executive Elon Musk, who all appeared via video link.
US tech adviser Michael Kratsios, who co-hosted the G20 event, called on countries to adopt the “Carolina Principles” that would avoid “writing entirely new regulations for AI” in order to allow companies to focus on innovation.
“G20 countries realized an optimistic vision for the future of emerging technologies, recognizing that flexible policy frameworks crafted to promote innovation will drive economic growth and prosperity,” he said in a statement shared by the White House.
“That is the spirit of the Carolina Principles, and that is how we will expand opportunity for Americans and people around the world.”
While tech leaders have largely advocated for a limited approach to regulation, some policy makers and AI experts have argued that safeguards are needed to address risks like misinformation, bias, privacy, and mental health concerns.
Huang, who has overseen Nvidia’s rise to become the world’s most valuable company, appeared to dismiss such worries by claiming that leaders should “not talk about the technology with fear, with uncertainty.”
He added: “The worst outcome is that you don’t take advantage of it, that you are left behind.”
Mr Altman said he supported self regulation for AI firms, claiming that it would be enough to “avoid catastrophic risks”.
