AI 'kill switch' may need to be mandatory, Anthropic co-founder tells BBC
Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark has suggested that mandatory, third-party verifiable 'kill switches' for AI systems may be necessary to mitigate existential risks. This proposal comes amid growing industry debate regarding the safety and regulation of advanced artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
The debate over AI safety mechanisms is central to current global policy discussions regarding the regulation of powerful emerging technologies.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kali Hays , Technology reporter and Faisal Islam , Economics editor AI "more powerful by the day", Anthropic co-founder tells BBC An artificial intelligence "kill switch" which can be checked by a third party may need to be mandatory for companies, a co-founder of one of the world's largest AI firms has told the BBC.
Jack Clark, one of seven founders of Anthropic, said a way of shutting off AI software completely if it gets too dangerous was something society "might want to eventually pass rules around".
Clark said "most labs have different ways of being able to pull the plug", including Anthropic, but said lawmakers may need to enforce having one.
AI's rapid development and fears over the risks it poses to humanity have been thrust into the spotlight by a series of warnings from executives and staff at AI firms.
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