Science & Technology

Google is now developing an AI 'kill switch'

By T.K. Randall
June 8, 2016

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Concerned about the threat of a runaway artificial intelligence, Google's AI division 'DeepMind' is working together with Oxford University to develop a way to keep intelligent computers in check.

It's a disaster scenario that has played out time and time again in science fiction and even some high profile figures such as Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have recently spoken out about the risks of developing a computer that might eventually exceed the intelligence of its creators.Implementing a built-in 'off switch' therefore would seem to be a sensible precaution, especially when a computer can even learn to circumvent conventional programmatic restrictions such as when a Tetris-playing AI learned to cheat by pausing the game indefinitely back in 2013.

"It is important to start working on AI safety before any problem arises," said Dr Laurent Orseau.

"AI safety is about making sure learning algorithms work the way we want them to work. No system is ever going to be foolproof - it is matter of making it as good as possible."

Source: BBC News

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Google