SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Warns of AI Security Risks
SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son has expressed concerns about the security risks posed by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. He calls for international cooperation to address these threats.
Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank Group and previously a staunch advocate for artificial intelligence (AI), has recently voiced growing concerns over the security risks accompanying the technology's swift progress. Speaking at the "Role of Science and Technology in Society" forum in Kyoto, Japan, Son emphasized that AI's exponential growth makes it imperative for nations to build mutual trust and collaborate to navigate the technology.
"Humanity can no longer afford internal conflict," Son stated. He stressed that countries must unite to confront the unprecedented threats posed by powerful AI models, warning that superintelligence falling into the wrong hands could lead to "extremely dangerous" consequences.
Son's uncharacteristically cautious remarks reflect rising public apprehension, fueled by recent incidents involving AI security vulnerabilities and unauthorized access. SoftBank is a key investor in ChatGPT creator OpenAI, and Son has long championed AI's potential for significant investment returns and societal benefit.
Meanwhile, the aggregated capabilities of AI services continue to grow exponentially. The underlying technology powering chatbots is now enabling AI to autonomously browse the web, write code, and consume vast amounts of general-purpose chips. Son anticipates the next phase, "phase three," will involve AI programs interacting more deeply with the physical world through robots and other intelligent hardware, beginning next year.