Former Google head compared AI development to nuclear deterrence

Former Google head Eric Schmidt stated that artificial intelligence is still underestimated. In a candid interview he explained what restrains technology development and what threats they carry.

According to him, the revolution began in 16 with AlphaGo’s victory over human. The DeepMind system made a move that no human had thought of in 2500 years. This showed artificial intelligence’s ability to invent, not just repeat.

And ChatGPT represents only a showcase of possibilities. Real breakthroughs happen in reinforcement learning, planning and strategy. Modern systems independently perform complex multi-step tasks.

Artificial intelligence knows how to combine the known, but still poorly handles interdisciplinary discoveries. The next goal is to teach systems to set goals and invent new paradigms.

Technology growth is restrained by 3 factors. This is energy. The USA alone will need an additional 90 gigawatts of power, which is equivalent to 90 nuclear power plants to power data centers. This is data – useful information for training is running out, synthetic data will have to be created. This is computations – transition to reinforcement learning may require 1000 times more power than simple deep learning.

Schmidt also warns about geopolitical risks. According to him, artificial intelligence has dual purpose – civilian and military. And the USA and China are now fighting for dominance. The first country to achieve superintelligence will gain technological superiority capable of destabilizing the world.

The former Google head compares the artificial intelligence race to nuclear deterrence. But with less room for error. His advice – master technologies every day, otherwise you’ll fall behind.