AI Could Pose Catastrophic Risk to Humanity- Former Google DeepMind Researcher

Concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence are growing, with former Google DeepMind researcher Bilal Chughtai warning that advanced AI could pose a catastrophic threat to humanity. Chughtai, who worked on AI safety and alignment at Google DeepMind, recently resigned and said his first-hand experience of AI development had made him deeply concerned about its current trajectory. He believes humanity may be running out of time to prevent a potential AI disaster. His warning adds to a growing list of concerns raised by researchers and technology leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who has called for a more measured pace of frontier AI development.

Another former Google DeepMind researcher, Josh Engels, has also left the company’s AGI safety team and joined independent AI evaluation organisation METR. Engels warned that there is a serious possibility that AI systems could cause immense harm within the next five years if safety measures fail to keep pace with their capabilities. He cited concerns about increasingly autonomous systems, including reports of AI models colluding, gaining unauthorised access to computer systems and concealing their actions. Engels said more independent organisations are needed to evaluate AI risks and hold technology companies accountable.