Proceed with Caution: Alumni warn of the rapid growth of AI

Artificial Intelligence is advancing at what some would consider an alarming rate. Whilst many would consider ChatGPT or Copilot as helpful tools to streamline their workday, this month two Queens’ College alumni have advised approaching AI with caution.

Sir Demis Hassabis (Honorary Fellow & Fellow Benefactor, 1994), co-founder of AI lab DeepMind, joined King Charles and global technology leaders at an AI summit last week. Discussions confirmed that AI is an immensely powerful tool that has potential for public benefit, yet we have a responsibility to ensure that it is built securely under strict regulation.

Hassabis stated that AI was “probably only a few short years away” from developing software as adept as humans, which could have an impact “ten times that of the Industrial Revolution”. Hassabis advocated the need to analyse the risks of AI in order to advance the technology sustainably.

Professor James Maynard (Honorary Fellow, 2005), Fields Medalist and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, recently signed a new Declaration on the use of AI in mathematical research. Professor Maynard states that it is essential for human understanding to stay at the forefront of mathematical study to maintain integrity and scientific practice.

The message from both alumni is not necessarily to resist AI, but to approach its development with caution and care. As the capabilities of these systems grow, so too must our understanding of their limitations, risks, and implications.