AI may not destroy humanity – but the UK cannot afford to be left behind, says UoG expert
Dr Will Sayers, a cyber security expert at University of Gloucestershire, says the UK needs to develop a much stronger pipeline of technology talent to avoid being left behind by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
His comments follow warnings from a senior AI safety researcher that there could be a greater than 10% chance of artificial intelligence (AI) ultimately leading to human extinction.
While Dr Sayers believes the likelihood of such an extreme scenario is considerably lower, he says concerns about AI safety should be taken seriously – and that greater attention needs to be paid to how increasingly powerful AI systems are controlled and used.
Dr Sayers said: “There isn’t a zero per cent chance that predictions like this could ultimately prove correct, but I think the likelihood is slim and some of the claims we are seeing inevitably contain an element of hyperbole.
“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking AI safety seriously. There is more we could be doing, not only to ensure the systems themselves are safe, but to think about how they are being used and who has access to the most advanced technology.
“That applies to governments and private companies as much as it does to individuals.”
Dr Sayers (pictured above) says the pace of AI development also presents an economic and skills challenge for the UK, with the potential for the technology to transform society on a scale comparable to the Industrial Revolution.
Universities have an important role to play in developing the skills needed to respond to that change. At the University of Gloucestershire, students can study Cyber Security at undergraduate and postgraduate level, while degree apprenticeships provide another route for people to develop higher-level cyber and digital skills alongside employment. The University also works with employers to help ensure its teaching reflects the skills needed by industry.
Rather than attempting to compete with the spending power of major US and Chinese technology companies, Dr Sayers believes the UK should capitalise on its strengths in research and education.
Dr Sayers added: “We are never going to outspend the biggest technology companies in the US and China, but that doesn’t mean the UK cannot be at the cutting edge.
“We should be supporting research and creating a pipeline of talent that runs right through our schools, colleges and universities – from tech-savvy young people through to highly qualified researchers.
“And this isn’t just about creating more AI experts. We need experts in every field who are AI-savvy and understand how they can bring the benefits of the technology into their profession.
“Whether somebody goes on to work in engineering, healthcare, cyber security, education or another sector, increasingly they will need to understand what AI can do, how to use it effectively and where its limitations and risks lie.”
While initiatives are already seeking to strengthen the UK’s position in AI and emerging technology, Dr Sayesr believes greater scale and measurable impact will be needed to keep pace with technological change.
He added: “A lot of what is happening at the moment is well intentioned, but too often initiatives lack the scale, impact and reportable outcomes that we need.
“We are potentially living through a technological transformation comparable with an industrial revolution. If we don’t act, there is a genuine risk that the UK will be left behind.
“The debate shouldn’t simply be about whether we should fear AI. We also need to ask whether we are doing enough to develop the skills, expertise and safeguards that will allow us to shape what comes next.”