On September 2, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, highlighted before the G20 technology and trade ministers in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that the adoption of artificial intelligence is an unavoidable necessity for all countries. During the G20 Innovation Ministerial, Altman explained the comparison between AI and electricity, suggesting that rejecting AI would be an equally grave mistake.
Altman stated: “I think it would be about as bad an idea to say we’re not going to have AI in our country as it was to say we weren’t going to have electricity over a hundred years ago.” While acknowledging his bias in the discussion, he emphasized that AI will become an everyday element in people’s lives. “In a decade we won’t be talking about AI as much as now, because we’ll just expect it everywhere,” he predicted.
Throughout his speech, Altman answered questions about the challenges and the capacity of each country to establish its own regulations on AI and how these should be implemented. “OpenAI will provide the engine, this raw material of AI,” he argued, stressing that the application and context will depend on the users and their local needs.
When presenting data on the evolution of AI usage, Altman mentioned that at the beginning of 2020, the leading user consumed about 100 thousand tokens per month, while by mid-2026 he predicts that “hundreds of billions” of tokens will be used. “If the curve continues, in another six and a half years the average per person will be around 100 billion tokens per month,” he said, pointing out that this will require more infrastructure.
Regarding the risks associated with AI, Altman was clear to warn about potential significant failures in cybersecurity and the concentration of power. “I believe some things are going to go very wrong in cybersecurity unless people act with quite a sense of urgency,” he stated, also mentioning the danger that AI could become a scarce resource if not managed properly.
He concluded by recognizing that humanity has learned to handle new technologies, emphasizing the need for a vigilant approach to security and access. Altman illustrated his point by comparing the development of electricity and the process of ensuring it doesn’t pose a danger, suggesting that something similar is needed with AI.
Source: www.infobae.com
