AI has both threats and opportunities - British Economist

LONDON: Governments around the world should be responsible for the pace of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford said that it is vital for the powers that be do not pretend that they are 'impotent' when it comes to making this decision.

"AI like all new technologies, has threats and opportunities.

""The idea that Government is impotent is completely wrong. Government has to be in charge of this process, control the pace at which we adopt AI," said Collier.

He added that there were 'scare stories' published in newspapers that AI will eventually 'destroy' jobs.

"It will change jobs. At its best, if we harness it properly, AI will 'destroy' the tedious part of jobs.

"At its worst, it may put millions of people on the street, unemployed," opined Collier during an interview with Astro AWANI's Editor-in-Chief Ashwad Ismail & Niaga AWANI Editor Najib Aroff in Agenda AWANI programme.

Collier stressed that since AI is created by humans, it is our responsibility to control it.

"The idea that we let businesses make as much profit as possible is insane. Governments have to control the pace and form of AI," he added.