Protesters from the “Pause AI” movement are calling for governments to regulate AI companies and halt the development of new cutting-edge artificial intelligence models unless they can be thoroughly evaluated for safety. Demonstrations took place in thirteen countries, including the U.S., the U.K, Brazil, Germany, Australia, and Norway. In London, protesters gathered outside the U.K.’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, chanting slogans like “stop the race, it’s not safe” and “who’s future? our future” in an effort to raise awareness among policy makers.
The protesters are particularly concerned about companies like OpenAI and their Chat GPT model, which they believe are not taking adequate precautions to ensure the safety of their AI models before releasing them into the world. Gideon Futerman, an Oxford undergraduate student who spoke at the protest, criticized AI companies for their treatment of workers and their use of other people’s work in their models, which he believes demonstrates a lack of trustworthiness. Freelance writer Tara Steele, who has seen the impact of AI technology on her own livelihood, expressed sadness at the reduction in demand for freelance work since the introduction of ChatGPT.
Steele’s experience with the decrease in demand for freelance work due to AI technologies like ChatGPT has fueled her participation in the protests. She emphasized the emotional toll of losing opportunities to write, something she loves, and her belief that the unchecked development of AI models is negatively impacting individuals in creative fields. The protesters are advocating for a more cautious approach to AI development, emphasizing the need for thorough safety evaluations before new models are released.
While the protesters acknowledge the potential benefits of AI technology, they are calling for a pause in its development until companies can demonstrate that their models are safe for public use. They argue that the current lack of regulation and oversight in the AI industry poses risks to society and individuals, and that companies must be held accountable for the impact of their technologies. By raising awareness and advocating for government intervention, the “Pause AI” movement aims to ensure that AI development prioritizes safety and ethical considerations.
As the world prepares for the second-ever global summit on artificial intelligence, the “Pause AI” movement is challenging governments and companies to take responsibility for the development and deployment of AI technologies. By highlighting the potential risks and negative impacts of unchecked AI development, protesters are pushing for greater accountability and regulation in the industry. Their message is clear: AI companies must prioritize safety and ethical considerations in their work, and governments must step in to ensure that AI technologies benefit society as a whole.
