OpenAI CEO says possible to get regulation wrong, but should not fear it

The CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, Sam Altman, addressed the pressing issue of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation during an AI event hosted by the charitable foundation of Terry Gou, founder of Foxconn, in Taipei on Monday. Altman emphasized the significance of AI regulation while acknowledging the potential pitfalls and concerns associated with it.

In a world grappling with the rapid advancements in AI technology, numerous countries are actively working on AI regulation frameworks. Additionally, the United Kingdom is preparing to host a global AI safety summit in November. This summit aims to facilitate discussions on comprehending the risks posed by AI and exploring how national and international regulations can effectively address these concerns.

Sam Altman, who is also the public face of OpenAI and enjoys the support of tech giant Microsoft Corp., shared his perspective on AI regulation. Altman stated that while he was not overly concerned about government overregulation, it remained a possibility. He noted, “I also worry about under-regulation. People in our industry bash regulation a lot. We’ve been calling for regulation, but only of the most powerful systems.”

Altman specifically highlighted the need for regulation concerning AI models that are significantly more powerful than current technologies, stating, “Models that are like 10,000 times the power of GPT4, models that are as smart as human civilization, those probably deserve some regulation.”

Addressing the often-encountered resistance to regulation within the tech industry, Altman said, “In the tech industry, there is a reflexive anti-regulation stance.” He compared AI regulation to regulations ensuring the safety of air travel, highlighting that regulation, despite its challenges, had been beneficial in numerous ways. “I don’t want to have to make an opinion about every time I step on an airplane how safe it’s going to be, but I trust that they’re pretty safe, and I think regulation has been a positive good there,” he remarked.

Altman concluded his remarks by emphasizing that while it was possible to make mistakes in regulating AI, the tech community should not fear regulation. He stated, “It is possible to get regulation wrong, but I don’t think we sit around and fear it. In fact, we think some version of it is important.”

Terry Gou, who is currently an independent candidate for the presidency of Taiwan, was present in the audience during the event but did not speak on the matter.

As concerns about the consequences of unchecked AI development continue to mount globally, Sam Altman’s insights shed light on the complex balance between fostering innovation and ensuring responsible AI regulation. The upcoming global AI safety summit in the UK is expected to be a crucial platform for further discussions on this pressing issue.