The recent open letter by influential signatories demanding an immediate stop of all AI research and projects beyond systems more powerful than GPT-4 is alarmism, says Abdulla Almoayed, Founder/CEO of Tarabut Gateway, MENA’s first and largest open banking platform.

 

"The open letter calling for a temporary halt to AI projects that exceed the capabilities of GPT-4 is well-intended, but misses the mark. Its influential signatories go too far by asking developers and authorities to immediately pause ongoing projects," he said in a comment on the open letter.

 

The letter has been signed by high-profile leaders in the tech industry, such as Elon Musk, Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak, Skype Co-founder Jaan Tallinn, and Pinterest Co-founder Evan Sharp.

 

“The pace of AI innovation witnessed in recent months is indeed breathtaking. Encouraging reflection about unintended consequences and AI’s potential negative impact on human society is a worthy goal. However, the letter warns that AI would "eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete and replace us," which comes close to traditional Luddite tropes. This is alarmism rather than a contribution to rational debate," said Almoayed.

 

“If there is one lesson from the history of technology since the dawn of humanity, it's that technological progress is impossible to outlaw or stop at will. Instead of calling for an unprecedented 'immediate pause' of all AI projects, now is the time to think about measured regulation, transparency requirements, and informed use of AI technology. AI is a significant step forward for civilization, and we should approach this new age with clear-sighted optimism."

 

Abdulla has raised $75 million from Tiger Global and is the sole founder of Tarabut Gateway, pushing fintech innovation and the use of AI in financial services in MENA. The start-up is the region’s first regulated and licensed open banking platform, and is active in Bahrain, the UAE and KSA. - TradeArabia News Service