SoftBank's Masayoshi Son has rare cautionary note on AI safety (www.japantimes.co.jp)

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, expressed concerns about AI safety at a recent forum in Kyoto, highlighting the rapid growth of AI capabilities and the associated risks. He emphasized the necessity for international cooperation to manage the threats posed by powerful AI systems, stating, “We don’t have any more luxury of having human fight against human.” His caution follows increasing instances of AI security breaches, and he underscored that superintelligent AI in the wrong hands could be “super dangerous.” Son’s investments, totaling approximately $65 billion in OpenAI, reflect his longstanding belief in AI’s potential to transform industries and benefit humanity. At the same event, U.S. science policy advisor Michael Kratsios announced a collaborative initiative among 17 countries, emphasizing the role of AI in accelerating scientific research. He described how robotic systems in automated labs could perform hundreds of experiments simultaneously, vastly speeding up data collection and analysis. As AI capabilities expand, including advancements in chatbot technology, Son predicted that AI would contribute significantly to the global economy, potentially accounting for 20% of GDP by 2040, equating to approximately $46 trillion. This reflects both the promise and peril of AI's integration into society, necessitating careful management and oversight.