In an interview with Sky News, the former prime minister discusses AI’s potential to change the way we live and why governments need to work with each other and with innovators to figure out how to harness the technology. Told.
To Kamari Melbourne, Sky News host
Friday 7 July 2023 20:18 UK
When it comes to artificial intelligence, Sir Tony Blair makes it clear that this technology has the potential to change our lives.
“I think it’s comparable to the industrial revolution of the 19th century,” he says.
“I think so [technology] We already did, but generative AI takes us one step further. ”
The former prime minister’s eponymous research institute has written papers on AI, but he also gives talks and writes opinion pieces for newspapers about the technology.
Sir Tony wants us to understand the risks as well as the rewards.
“This is a very good but also potentially very bad technology,” he told me.
“The benefits are huge. It can change the way we live and work, and it can make a big difference in health care, education and government.
“This will change the way businesses work and should dramatically improve productivity.
“On the other hand, we can also get deepfakes of disinformation, and people use them to create bioterrorism weapons, for example.
“How should governments go about it? Governments need to understand it, learn it, and leverage it. They need to access opportunities and mitigate risks.”
The question that leads to the answer is written by an AI chatbot, Chat GPT.
This article seeks Sir Tony’s views on the potential benefits and risks of AI and how governments and societies should deal with such rapidly advancing technologies.
“Well, that’s a very obvious question,” he replies.
Yet he replies:
I asked him to describe the moment we are in.
“It’s like the Industrial Revolution,” he says. “Just as that moment changed humanity and changed nations, this moment and generative AI will change it too.”
And are you ready for it? Here he reacted more cautiously.
When asked if British politicians were naive, he said no, but ignorant of the power of technology and its uses.
“Part of the problem is that you have changemakers in one room and policy makers in another room,” he says.
The US, China and the private sector have stolen the marches, and countries such as Singapore are catching up with Britain, Lord Tony says.
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“China is a leader in AI. The 21st century will be shaped by competition between the two countries.” [China and US]. ”
But Sir Tony says competing superpowers need to find ways to work together, especially on climate change and global health.
“Can technology do that? I don’t know.”
What about Britain? Can the UK still be the leader?
“We are strong in life sciences, we are strong in climate, we are strong in AI itself,” he told me.
“We need to keep our university strong, invest heavily in infrastructure and build computing power.
“There is a lot of work to do, but it has to be driven from the top.”
One of the positives, according to Sir Tony, is that the UK will host a major AI conference this fall.
“One of the reasons I think this is a good idea is to explore all the possibilities in regulation and try to bring the major countries together,” he said.
“At least, Europe and America should try to cooperate on this matter.”
Could AI have done the work of Sir Tony Blair?
As a final question, I asked if an AI would be up to the job as prime minister.
“No, it can’t be,” he said with a smile.
But there are parts of his job that AI could have helped, he says.
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“Decision-making could become much more efficient and could replace some of the government processes.
“For example, there are already people around the world using AI to plan, and one country in Europe is now using AI to file small claims without expensive court proceedings. .
“Ultimately, it may be best to look at this as an aid to those making the decisions.
“But ultimately we have to retain human decision-making ability, but technology will give us better information.”
On his way out, Sir Tony told me about how the kids asked the AI to use the text of his speech to make a rap song.
Did you like anything? he doesn’t say…
