According to the New York Post, Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has expressed concern about artificial intelligence (AI), comparing it to the creation of the atom bomb. Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Saturday, Buffett stated that he becomes worried when something has the potential to do all kinds of things, as once it is created, it cannot be un-invented.
He acknowledged that the invention of the atom bomb was necessary during World War II, but questioned whether it is good for the world that the ability to create such a weapon has been unleashed for the next 200 years.
Although Buffett has been impressed by some of AI’s capabilities, including its ability to check all legal opinions “since the beginning of time,” he believes that artificial intelligence will change everything in the world, except for how men think and behave. His vice chairman, Charlie Munger, added that he is personally skeptical of the hype surrounding AI and that old-fashioned intelligence still works well.
Human intelligence is the result of millions of years of evolution, shaped by a complex interplay of genetics, environment, and culture. Human intelligence encompasses a wide range of cognitive abilities, including perception, memory, attention, language, creativity, and reasoning. Humans are also capable of social and emotional intelligence, which enables them to understand and interact with others, navigate complex social situations, and express empathy and compassion.
Despite the impressive advances in AI, there are still significant differences between the two types of intelligence. AI systems are specialized and focused on specific tasks, while human intelligence is general and adaptable to a wide range of situations. AI lacks the flexibility and creativity of human intelligence and is unable to understand context, emotions, and social cues in the same way as humans do, thereby giving those in Munger’s camp grounds for optimism.
Buffett’s and Munger’s comments follow a letter signed by 1,600 researchers, technology experts, and CEOs, including Elon Musk, warning of the potential dangers of AI and calling for a six-month pause to AI development. The letter stated that powerful AI systems should only be developed once their effects are positive, and their risks are manageable.
