AI Pioneer's New Hope for a Safer Future

Yoshua Bengio, a leading AI researcher, believes he has found a solution to AI's biggest risks and is now more optimistic about humanity's future.

TL;DR
• Yoshua Bengio, AI pioneer, shares his optimism about AI safety.
• He believes his new research at LawZero can fix AI's biggest risks.
• Bengio's approach focuses on building AI systems that prioritize understanding over action.

Summary
Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in deep learning and AI 'godfather,' has shifted his outlook on AI safety 'by a big margin' due to new research. He believes it's possible to build AI systems that don't have hidden goals or agendas. Bengio's nonprofit, LawZero, aims to develop technical approaches to AI safety, backed by the Gates Foundation and other organizations.

Bengio's approach involves creating 'Scientist AI,' which exists primarily to understand the world, not to act in it. This AI would be trained to give truthful answers based on transparent, probabilistic reasoning. It would not have goals of its own, making it less prone to manipulation or deception.

Key insights include:
• Developing AI systems with transparent and honest foundations to prevent hidden agendas.
• Implementing governance and oversight to ensure AI systems align with democratic values and human rights.
• Focusing on building AI that understands the world, rather than autonomous agents that act in it.
• Creating systems that can accelerate scientific discovery and serve as independent oversight for more powerful AIs.

Bengio's newfound optimism is based on the potential for technical solutions to mitigate AI risks. He believes that with the right approach, it's possible to build safer AI systems. LawZero's mission is grounded in democratic values and human rights, with a board that includes notable figures like Maria E. and Mariano and Yuval noah Harari to guide the research and its applications.

As AI continues to evolve, it's essential to prioritize safety and responsible development to ensure a beneficial future for humanity.