Mark Zuckerberg dispels doomsday fears, heralds a rosy AI dawn

Contradicting the doomsday outlook on artificial intelligence (AI), Meta's Mark Zuckerberg championed the technology and said that superintelligence, when achieved, will take knowledge and invention forward, and is not something that will simply eliminate jobs and make humans irrelevant.

In a blog post, Zuckerberg said, "I do not understand why anyone who believes that AI will eliminate most jobs and much of humanity's relevance would rush to build that future. The notion that AI is so dangerous that the only safe path is an extreme concentration of power seems inherently problematic."

He explained that the biggest sprints humanity has made have come from individual achievement and not from powerful institutions. Invention, not automation, will be the greatest contribution of superintelligence, Zuckerberg wrote, adding that early AI could do routine work, but soon it will help discover new knowledge.


Referring to rising AI costs, he wrote, "While the number of questions a person can ask in a day is limited, the number of valuable things superintelligence can invent to help achieve your goals is unlimited."

What Meta is doing

Zuckerberg went on to explain how the Facebook and Instagram parent is developing superintelligence in a way that improves lives and is accessible widely.

For instance, developing a capable personal agent which understands the user and her goals. "Your agent will work 24/7 on your behalf to improve your relationships, health, career, finances, home management, hobbies, and more. It will free up time for the things you enjoy, and help you accomplish more than you could otherwise."

Then there are tools to express your ideas, build businesses, etc. Zuckerberg said researchers at Meta are using AI to generate new crystal structures that are ideal for augmented reality glasses, and engineers are creating new apps in a fraction of the time it would have taken before. "Everyone will soon have invention superpowers," he said.

Broader idea

In a detailed note on the Meta website around this time last year, describing the company's approach as distinct from other technology firms, Zuckerberg had outlined plans to deliver superintelligence that will help individuals achieve personal goals, create new things, and enhance daily life.

"As profound as the abundance produced by AI may one day be, an even more meaningful impact on our lives will likely come from everyone having a personal superintelligence that helps you achieve your goals, create what you want to see in the world, experience any adventure, be a better friend to those you care about, and grow to become the person you aspire to be," he had said.