Summary- Even mistakes like the coronavirus could have been avoided if we had woken up sooner. This is the time to secure the world, birds, and humans from a virus like the coronavirus, which we all were afraid of. Recently, Ebola spread quickly. We need solutions and steps to stop the spread of viruses. Not just AI; Wuhan-like lab leaks can kill humanity too. So stop the spread of viruses of any kind now; let AI find solutions to stop virus muating in birds and animals. Let us take initiative on this now.
This week was different: Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher and whistleblower at Anthropic, said AI could kill all of humanity by 2030, and that the probability of that happening is 10%. What happened at Anthropic that led Jacob Coxon to resign and make this statement? What did he face at Anthropic? What happened in the day-to-day work that made him feel AI could wipe out humanity? Did he read prompts about virus development? Were some human users of Anthropic asking how to make a virus? Or is the company doing some research? If so, note: it’s not just AI that can make a virus; human mistakes and mutations in nature can, too. We have been through a lab leak in Wuhan, China, in Corona times. We all.
Jacob Coxon said in his interview that he thinks AI can go to bio labs, make a virus, and leak it to the world. It sounds like something out of sci-fi. A virus leak by a robot or automated AI.
So why do we allow AI to go to a bio lab in the first place? Well, then we have to stop making virus-making open to the public. So many bio researchers know how to make viruses in labs. Maybe AI can stop humans with bad intentions from spreading viruses in labs? Can we have such an AI- an AI that can stop humans and robots from leaking viruses to the world?
But this can happen without AI, too. We had enough of the coronavirus leak from China’s Wuhan! No more virus leaks, please. This should not be allowed.
This virus leak from China’s Wuhan labs was not caused by AI. So I think you are scared of the virus, even though I and we all are, but even human mistakes or intentions can leak viruses into the world too. The image of Wuhan’s animal market doesn’t leave my mind either; animals and birds were kept in unhygienic conditions. Are these places not scary to you for virus growth?
And China denied it all along, saying the virus spread for other reasons and that no one knew. But why were Wuhan and the nearby bird market so filthy? So, we are all afraid of the virus, but even humans or mistakes in protocols can spread it. Not just AI. People with wrong intent too. But something happened at Anthropic that made him say all this.
Let’s fight virus safety now from AI or human mistakes or intentions, and from both.
Why not use AI to find solutions to all kinds of viruses?
But something for sure he encountered at Anthropic?
So, Jacob Coxon has expressed his fear that AI could leak a virus into the world. I say, why not make protocols to prevent leaks, let Good AI help us with that, and at the same time stop Bad AI from spreading how to make a virus or making a virus itself. Knowing that the Wuhan virus leaked from bats kept badly at the Wuhan animal market is even scarier.
So let’s prepare for virus leaks from labs and places like Wuhan too. Let’s end Jacob Coxon’s and our fears then. Let’s stand up and consider all the ways a virus can reach birds, not just humans. Let’s save our birds from viruses too. Let’s prevent humans from contracting viruses. Let’s recognize that some viruses mutate in nature, and this has nothing to do with AI. So, with AI, let’s find solutions to stop virus growth, curb virus spread, and treat diseases.
Take it seriously and stop virus growth in bad – animal and bird markets. Let’s stop the wrong use of bio-labs all over the world so that no human or AI can misuse them to create a virus. At the same time, AI can check lab steps to ensure no wrong steps are taken. Even human mistakes can leak a virus. Let’s have a deal with impartial ones: Good AI monitoring each step in labs. At the same time, know that Bad AI can make things go nasty. And in the end, let’s put the lead in the hands of humans who care to check the processes.
Towards a better world for all of us.
Nidhika
Artificial Intelligence and Future 