Bridging Today and the Future of Humanity: AI Safety in 2024 and Beyond
Shanshan Han
TL;DR
The paper asks whether current AI safety efforts align with rapid AI advancement and the long-term trajectory of human civilization. It proposes a blueprint envisioning an energy-rich, Internet-connected future where intelligent robots and humans form an integrated network. Using this blueprint, it analyzes safety challenges across data-driven, neural augmentation, and energy-revolution eras to derive 2020s missions. It argues for reframing AI safety as AI quality assurance and for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, governance, and proactive risk anticipation.
Abstract
The advancements in generative AI inevitably raise concerns about their risks and safety implications, which, in return, catalyzes significant progress in AI safety. However, as this field continues to evolve, a critical question arises: are our current efforts on AI safety aligned with the advancements of AI as well as the long-term goal of human civilization? This paper presents a blueprint for an advanced human society and leverages this vision to guide current AI safety efforts. It outlines a future where the Internet of Everything becomes reality, and creates a roadmap of significant technological advancements towards this envisioned future. For each stage of the advancements, this paper forecasts potential AI safety issues that humanity may face. By projecting current efforts against this blueprint, this paper examines the alignment between the current efforts and the long-term needs, and highlights unique challenges and missions that demand increasing attention from AI safety practitioners in the 2020s. This vision paper aims to offer a broader perspective on AI safety, emphasizing that our current efforts should not only address immediate concerns but also anticipate potential risks in the expanding AI landscape, thereby promoting a safe and sustainable future of AI and human civilization.