Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) firm, recently shared his insights on the progress of AI technology and the potential for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) in the near future. Speaking at a panel discussion at VivaTech Paris 2024, Li addressed concerns about the rapid advancement of AI and its implications for society.
Despite the fears surrounding AGI, Li believes that this level of intelligence is still more than a decade away. He emphasized that current AI models are far from achieving AGI and that there is still much to learn about how to reach that level of intelligence. Li stressed the importance of using AI technology to address societal issues, which he believes will help advance the foundational AI models and bring us closer to AGI.
One of the key benefits of AGI, according to Li, is its potential to address concerns related to population decline. If AI can reach human-level intelligence, it could offer productivity equivalent to a billion people, potentially solving critical societal issues and enhancing human productivity.
On the other hand, Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, expressed a more pessimistic view on AI, likening its disruptive potential to that of nuclear weapons. Despite differing opinions on the future of AI, the development of AGI is seen as a path towards solving critical societal issues and improving human productivity.
Overall, the debate around AGI continues to spark discussions about the future of AI technology and its potential impact on society. As researchers and developers work towards achieving AGI, the focus remains on using AI technology to address pressing societal issues and enhance human productivity.