The UK’s AI Safety Summit is coming to a close, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be engaging in a conversation with entrepreneur Elon Musk. The conversation will be broadcast on Musk’s social media platform, X, with a delay. The event will last for 45 minutes and be moderated by an unknown individual. Some audience members, including tech executives and journalists, have been invited to ask questions. The UK government has stated that the conversation will not be edited before broadcast.
Here are some possible topics that the two men might discuss:
1. The risk of AI doom: Elon Musk has been vocal about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. He believes that AI development should proceed cautiously to avoid existential risks to humanity.
2. Pausing AI development: Musk was one of the signatories of a letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of AI systems that are more powerful than the state-of-the-art models. While the letter did not have a significant impact, the idea of a development pause was discussed during the summit and may be brought up in the conversation between Sunak and Musk.
3. China’s role in AI: The importance of China in the future of AI development is a crucial point of discussion. However, both Sunak and Musk may be hesitant to address this topic for their own reasons. Sunak may want to court Chinese investment while avoiding potential conflicts within his Conservative party. Musk, on the other hand, has business interests in China and may not want to rock the boat with controversial statements.
4. A Musk wild card: Elon Musk is known for his unpredictability, and this conversation is no exception. Given his various business interests, there is a possibility that he may ask Sunak to support his firms or the industries they operate in. Alternatively, Musk may simply express whatever is on his mind at the moment, leading to unexpected turns in the conversation.
While this conversation has the potential for valuable insights and discussions, some critics speculate that it may be more about self-indulgence for both Sunak and Musk, allowing them to showcase themselves in their respective fields of politics and tech. Some doubt whether the conversation will earnestly address the risks and regulations surrounding AI.
