Ma vs Musk on AI: The Optimistic Versus the Dystopian Viewpoint - AI Trends

When you get Jack Ma and Elon Musk on the same stage debating the impact of AI, you get a study in contrasts. Musk is CEO of Tesla and Ma is chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. The two shared a stage recently at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Regarding AI, Musk said, "People underestimate the capability of AI. They sort of think like it's a smart human. Ma said, "I never in my life say human beings will be controlled by machines, it's impossible…Human beings can never create another thing that is smarter than human beings." Musk said, "I very much disagree with that." In another contrasting exchange, Ma said, "I'm quite optimistic and I don't think artificial intelligence is a threat." Musk's retort included the phrase, "famous last words." This debate epitomizes the clash between the "narrow" AI embedded in GPS systems and Amazon recommendations, and the goal of artificial general intelligence, a self-teaching system able to outperform humans across a range of disciplines. This is known as the "singularity,' which some scientists believe is 30 years away, if it is ever achieved.