Former Google CEO Warns that ‘Unplugging’ AI Systems May Become Necessary
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, cautioned on Sunday that while the United States must prioritize winning the artificial intelligence (AI) race against China, there may come a time when the technology needs to be “unplugged” to prevent it from spiraling out of control.
In an interview on ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Schmidt explained the growing power of AI systems and their potential ability to operate independently.
“We’re soon going to be able to have computers running on their own, deciding what they want to do,” Schmidt said. He described a scenario where AI systems could move from executing specific tasks to making broader, self-directed decisions.
“We go from agents to then… more powerful goals, and eventually you say to the computer, ‘learn everything and do everything.’ And that’s a dangerous point. When the system can self-improve, we need to seriously think about unplugging it,” he cautioned.
Stephanopoulos raised the concern of whether an advanced AI system might resist efforts to “unplug” it. Schmidt responded by saying, “Well, in theory, we better have somebody with the hand on the plug – and metaphorically.
Schmidt also addressed the current state of AI regulation, arguing that while governments are not yet fully prepared to oversee the technology, they must act soon.
“There’s a point at which, maybe in the next year or two, where the systems can begin to do their own research,” Schmidt explained. “They’re called AI scientists, as opposed to human scientists. So you go from having 1000 human scientists to a million AI scientists. I think that increases the slope when you’re moving at this pace, it’s very hard for your competitors to catch up.”
Schmidt underscored the importance of the US government providing protections for AI development and maintaining its global competitiveness, particularly against China. While the US has historically been viewed as years ahead in AI advancements, Schmidt pointed out that China has caught up “in a way that is unremarkable.” He emphasized that “It is crucial that America wins this race globally, and in particular, ahead of China.”
Regarding government guardrails for AI, Schmidt said, “As long as human values – and by that I mean democratic liberal values in the classic sense of individual freedom and respect for an individual are preserved – we should be okay.”
