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AI Won’t Eat Us, But It Will Change the World: A Conversation

In a world where software is progressively dominating, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son is standing firmly on the optimistic side of the artificial intelligence (AI) debate. During a panel discussion with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Tokyo on Monday, Son dispelled fears that AI might pose an existential threat to humanity.

“Many people believe that if AI develops emotions, it would be catastrophic, that they would rebel and destroy us,” Son said. “I think that would only be the case if their energy source were protein.” Thankfully, as Son pointed out, AI’s energy source is not protein, so “they don’t have to eat us.”

The discussion between Son and Altman covered a broad spectrum of AI-related topics, including societal anxieties around AI, and more specifically, fears that AI could entirely replace human labour within the next decade. Altman, however, dismissed these concerns. He argued that as technology evolves, so do the types of jobs available to humans.

“People worry a lot about what AI means for jobs,” Altman said, drawing a parallel between today’s workforce and how it might be perceived by individuals from eras past. “To someone from 500 years ago, many of our jobs today wouldn’t even be considered work,” he added.

SoftBank is one of the investors in Project Stargate, a $500 billion venture announced last month to expedite AI deployment in the United States. The initiative aims to assign 1,000 engineers to create AI agents capable of functioning like employees.

Altman further expanded on this vision in Tokyo, describing a future where AI agents would have access to company systems, knowledge bases, and a deep understanding of business operations. He suggested the possibility of “virtual companies” that operate solely with AI agents. However, he warned that companies failing to embrace this technology may find themselves at a disadvantage.

“The adoption of new tech is always an advantage. Those who don’t integrate AI will struggle to compete,” Altman cautioned.

Despite the high stakes, not everyone is convinced by these grand plans. Elon Musk, co-founder of OpenAI who left the board following disagreements with Altman, questioned whether SoftBank had sufficient funds for Project Stargate.

Son responded assertively to Musk’s skepticism: “We will make it happen. We are not a bank, but we are SoftBank.”

Altman and Son also discussed the potential of AI systems with “infinite long-term memory” capabilities that could understand an individual’s entire life or a company’s history. Altman predicted that this technology could be developed within the next few years.

The executives also envision a future where humanoid robots are commonplace. “In a few years, we could have excellent humanoid robots and other types of robots too, which will also change the world,” Altman said.

As the conversation concluded, there was a shared hope that these futuristic robots, like their AI counterparts, won’t develop a taste for protein.