Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak warns of AI-powered scams and the need for industry regulation

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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently expressed concerns over the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to aid scammers in their efforts to deceive people. Wozniak explained that while he doesn’t believe AI will replace human intelligence, he fears that AI-powered tools could be manipulated to mimic human behavior, which would make it easier for bad actors to create and spread scams. Source BBC.

In particular, Wozniak highlighted the risks associated with generative AI, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT program, which allows users to generate realistic human-like text. Scammers could potentially use this technology to create and spread fraudulent messages and content, potentially deceiving many people.

To address this issue, Wozniak urged industry leaders to establish stricter standards to hold AI developers accountable for their technology’s potential misuse. He believes that it is essential to regulate the development of AI, but he also expressed doubts about whether regulators will prioritize the public’s interests over their financial gains.

Many companies have already launched generative AI software that can create everything from code to poems, plan vacations, and answer questions. However, the risks associated with the misuse of AI are evident, and that is why more than a thousand industry leaders, including Wozniak and Elon Musk, signed a petition in March to halt the development of AI programs beyond ChatGPT 4.

The petition cited the significant risks that unregulated AI systems could pose to society, such as the potential for the automation of jobs and the spread of propaganda and false information. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these risks seriously and prioritize the regulation of AI development to prevent its potential misuse.