During the UK AI Safety Summit, Elon Musk compared AI to a "magical genie" and suggested that in the future, there would be no need for jobs.
On the second day of the UK AI summit, a one-on-one conversation took place between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk, delving into topics such as the future of the job market, China's role, and the characterization of AI as a "magic genie."
investograph 
The UK AI Safety Summit concluded on November 2 with a one-on-one discussion between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and billionaire Elon Musk. Musk was among the prominent figures in attendance, including leaders from OpenAI, Meta, Google, and DeepMind, along with representatives from 27 countries. Musk's extensive conversation with Sunak was a highlight of the second day.
Their dialogue covered various topics, including AI risks, China's role, and commenced with Musk likening the burgeoning technology to a "magic genie."
"It's somewhat akin to the magic genie dilemma, where if you possess a magic genie capable of granting all your wishes, stories usually don't conclude well. Be cautious about what you desire."
Both emphasized the necessity for an actual "off-switch" for these intelligent bots, drawing comparisons to science fiction films like "The Terminator." Sunak remarked, "All these movies with a similar plot ultimately culminate in someone switching it off."
Musk added:
"It has both positive and negative aspects. One of the challenges in the future will be finding meaning in life when you have a magic genie that can fulfill all your desires."
This discussion arose after governments and AI companies reached an agreement to subject new models to official testing before their public release, which Sunak described as a "landmark agreement."
When questioned about AI's impact on the job market, Musk labeled it as the "most disruptive force in history" and predicted that AI would surpass human intelligence.
"There will come a point where no jobs are necessary. You can have a job if you desire it for personal satisfaction, but AI will have the capability to perform every task."
Musk concluded, "I'm unsure whether this makes people comfortable or uncomfortable."
Furthermore, Musk commented on China's participation in the summit, emphasizing its significance.
"Their involvement is crucial. Without their participation, it's futile," he asserted.
"If the United States, the UK, and China share common ground on safety, that will be beneficial, as those are generally the leaders in the field."
Over the past year, the US and China have been in a competitive race to develop and deploy the most advanced AI systems.
When Sunak asked Musk about the steps governments should take to mitigate risks, Musk responded:
"I generally believe that it's beneficial for the government to play a role when public safety is at risk. For the vast majority of software, public safety is not at risk. But when we discuss digital superintelligence, which does pose a risk to the public, then the government has a role to play in ensuring public safety."
He acknowledged that there are individuals in Silicon Valley who fear that regulations will stifle innovation, but Musk assured that regulations, while potentially irksome, would serve as a positive influence.
"The government's role as a referee ensures fair play and addresses public safety concerns because, at times, there's excessive optimism about technology."
Since the rapid integration of AI into mainstream society, governments worldwide have been striving to identify suitable approaches to regulate this technology.
