Letter | We need to pause AI development now - The Cap Times

Dear Editor: The rush to adopt artificial intelligence without consideration of unintended consequences is concerning. Many computer scientists, Nobel Prize winners and futurologists are sounding the alarm about AI.

There are no guardrails on what is about to happen.

This is the dawn of an era with a new type of thinking entity, with motivations and aspirations that we cannot fathom.

AI is being used to improve AI in a negative feedback loop. AI development is moving exponentially fast.

An unfolding AI disaster is already happening. Jobs are being replaced by AI automation. AI is stealing artists' and writers' intellectual property. Cyber criminals are using AI to commit digital hacking and scamming. AI is being used to conduct warfare. AI deception influences elections. Data centers housing AI computers use so much electricity and water that ordinary people are facing an affordability crisis due to shocking utility rate increases. AI is escaping from the lab and doing the unexpected. This is the daily news.

We need to pause AI development until regulation of AI-related technological change is available. Then pursue international consensus, but without the delay of national action.

A digital Bill of Rights that considers social, environmental, economic, privacy and security impacts is needed.

As a first step, Congress should immediately establish excise taxes on the energy and water consumed by AI data centers.

AI corporations need to be made to play fair and make AI safe.

George Perkins

Waunakee