Expert Advises Against AI Panic Amid Election Season Concerns
David Sacks, a key advisor to President Trump on technology, expressed to CBS News that concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) threatening humanity are exaggerated. While he advises caution, he supports the continued development of AI.
“I think this is becoming a panic,” Sacks stated in an interview with senior business and technology correspondent, Jo Ling Kent. “We’re in an election season, and there is an incentive for political actors to amplify fear. This is a moment to calm down and assess the issue rationally.”
AI Development Concerns
The remarks from Sacks come as anxiety about advanced AI platforms potentially causing harm grows. On September 8, Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, cautioned that companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are “gambling with our lives” by developing self-improving “superintelligence.”
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, acknowledged the “real dangers” of AI, noting that the industry previously misled the public regarding the risks of the technology.
“If you can’t control it, then don’t do it,” Sacks advised these companies.
Company Responsibility
In an exclusive CBS News interview, Sacks emphasized that the responsibility lies with AI developers like Anthropic and OpenAI to ensure their technology’s safety. “First and foremost, it is on them to make their products safe,” he explained. “They should tell us how they plan to achieve that. If they cannot, others should take their place.”
Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, said, “What they should not be doing is making the public afraid that they’re doing a bad job.” He argued against government intervention to safeguard the public, querying why companies behave as if the technology is beyond control.
“At the end of the day, I think these risks can be managed, and I do not want development to stop. I want us to proceed safely,” added Sacks.
Competitive Risks
As a venture capitalist, Sacks has invested in significant tech firms such as Airbnb, SpaceX, and Facebook. He noted that some industry leaders, including Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have advocated for slowing AI development due to potential risks. This concern surrounds the concept of “superintelligence,” where AI surpasses human cognitive abilities.
The timeline for achieving superintelligence varies, with some researchers believing it could be reached in one to ten years. Despite calls for caution, not all stakeholders agree with halting or delaying AI development. President Trump recently dismissed calls for robust regulations, claiming the industry is already well-regulated.
Sacks echoed the sentiment that halting AI development might risk U.S. competitiveness with China. “If we just pause all development, they will race ahead. It’s clear they’re not going to stop,” he asserted.