Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of tech giant Apple, has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could make scams and misinformation harder to spot.
In a statement, Wozniak expressed that technology could be harnessed by “bad actors”. Moreover, he mentioned that content by AI should be strictly controlled and regulated – an urgent need for the tech sector.
In March, the executive joined forces with Elon Musk and other notable industry leaders in signing a letter that advocated for a temporary halt in the advancement of the most potent AI models.
Zoe Kleinman, the BBC’s Technology Editor, engaged in a conversation with Mr Wozniak, a seasoned Silicon Valley veteran affectionately known as Woz.
As one of the co-founders of Apple alongside Steve Jobs and the mastermind behind the invention of the first Apple computer, Wozniak shared his insights on the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI) while expressing his apprehensions about its potential risks.
He stated, “AI is so intelligent it’s open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are.”
According to Wozniak, people who publish any content produced by artificial intelligence and afterwards shared it with the public should be held accountable. In his opinion, responsibility for the output produced by AI systems should eventually fall to a human.
He stresses the need for regulation to hold large technological corporations accountable because he thinks some of these companies have a sense of impunity and believe they can get away with their misdeeds without facing the consequences.
However, he also expresses doubt about regulators’ capacity to resolve these issues in a meaningful way. Wozniak claims that it is discouraging that the goal of financial gain frequently takes precedence over other factors.
Wozniak, a pioneer in computer technology, relates what was learned from the early internet to the designers of artificial intelligence today. While he accepts that it is impossible to stop the growth of technology, he places a strong emphasis on the need to educate and train people to be more discriminating when it comes to spotting fraud and protecting personal information in the face of AI advancements.
Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook, reinforces this idea by highlighting the necessity of an intentional and careful approach to AI integration. Cook acknowledges the great promise of AI and states that Apple would keep using it in their products—but only after carefully and deliberately planning their approach.
However, both Tim Cook and Wozniak stress the value of careful implementation and ensuring that AI fulfils the needs of individuals and society.