Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh, Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group Corp. shared his views on the future of AI, the difference between AGI & ASI, the enormous promise ASI holds, the significance of developing AI technology responsibly and more.
AI is my primary focus since I believe it has the potential of radically transforming the future of mankind. Also, I am committed to understanding as well as advancing Artificial Intelligence since I look at it as one of the key drivers of progress that can shape a better world for all of us. My passion lies in contributing to the development of AI technologies which will enhance lives ultimately, improve happiness and help in building a fantastic as well as brighter future for mankind.
AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is often defined as intelligence at the same level as the human brain. However, the opinions differ widely owing to its potential. People are curious to know about the ASI (Artificial Superintelligence) and how super it really is. They want to know if it is just ten times more powerful than human intelligence or a hundred times. In my view, ASI will be 10000 times more intelligent than the human brain and this is my prediction and I believe we will witness this by 2035 – which is just ten years from now.
Although the arrival of ASI holds immense promise, we must approach it with caution since it also holds the potential of revolutionizing every aspect of human life right from economics to healthcare to technology. However, without proper regulation, the power of ASI would become dangerous. It will be a superintelligent entity that is 10000 times smarter than humans could pose existential risks if they are not managed carefully.
For instance the automotive industry has been highly beneficial to humanity however it also requires regulation for ensuring safety & fairness. In a similar way, Artificial Superintelligence will require strict oversight for preventing potential harm and ensuring its benefits to society as a whole. As we move ahead with this new era, it is highly crucial for us to establish frameworks as well as regulations proactively for governing such transformative technologies.
With AI there is a possibility of someone developing harmful technologies. Hence it is essential to think about how we can guard against such risks and also make sure that AI is developed responsibly.
As with any area of human endeavor, there will always be a small fraction of people – may be 1 or 2 percent who would use the technology for harmful purposes. However, the vast majority of people say around 99 percent are good and they seek to leverage technology for positive as well as constructive purposes. Those with malicious intent would leverage Artificial intelligence for nefarious goals however, they do not necessarily require the resources to bring such kind of ambitions to life. Also, building or developing ASI needs massive investments – such as hundreds of billions of dollars – which is far beyond the reach of most bad actors.
Although money is not unlimited, the resources that are required for developing Superintelligence are vast. I am focused on saving tens of billions of dollars so that I can make the next big move.
ARM is our core organization and it dominates the chip market with almost 100 percent market share in the mobile phone processors, and 90 percent in high-end IoT chips as well as significant presence in various other chip categories. It is in the brink of changing into an AI-centric chip company and positioning itself at the forefront of the next technological revolution. And, this shift will not only focus on traditional robotics but it will focus on the integration of ASI with robotics.
We often enter a period of reflection and contemplation after facing difficult times. This phase is highly essential since it helps in learning more about ourselves as well as grow from the experiences. In hindsight, it can be a profoundly enriching journey. While at first experiencing defeat, being laughed at, or even facing criticism may seem disheartening, these moments push us to think deeper as well as work harder. These teach us resilience as well as compel us to become stronger. Although such challenges are tough they ultimately contribute to personal as well as professional growth and remind us that every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and evolve.
At the end of the day, I may be burdened with concerns and pondering over uncertainties and challenges. Yet, when I wake up, I choose to greet the day with a big smile, ready to face whatever comes next.
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