AI: Nadella puts the brakes on the rush: ‘It’s the real impact that counts, not the speed’
In the debate over the need to slow down the development of artificial intelligence, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella calls for a shift in focus from the race for superintelligence to its practical impact on the economy
Amid the global debate on the need to slow down the development of artificial intelligence, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has come out in favour of a more cautious approach, whilst distancing himself from the more doomsday scenarios emerging in Silicon Valley. The Indian executive argued that the priority should not be the race towards so-called ‘superintelligence’, but the ability to effectively deliver the benefits of AI to the real economy.
The announcement comes after Dario Amodei, founder and chief executive of Anthropic, called for the pace of development of the most advanced models to be slowed down. This stance has been backed by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Elon Musk, fostering a rare common front among some of the industry’s leading figures.
According to Nadella, the issue is not just how quickly technology is advancing, but who controls the benefits it brings. In a post on social media, the Microsoft CEO emphasised the importance of ensuring that artificial intelligence delivers benefits that are shared across countries, communities and businesses, whilst preventing power from becoming concentrated in the hands of a few operators. He also reiterated the need to maintain an open ecosystem in which proprietary and open-source models can coexist.
This statement comes at a time of growing tension within the sector. In recent months, a number of researchers and executives have expressed concerns about the speed at which AI systems’ capabilities are increasing and the risks posed by uncontrolled use. Amodei has proposed the introduction of independent auditors and international safety standards, whilst several governments are considering new forms of regulation.
On the other hand, there remains strong concern that an excessive slowdown could give China an advantage in the global technology race. This is the line taken by US President Donald Trump, who has described as exaggerated some of the most alarmist scenarios put forward by industry leaders and has reiterated the need for Washington to maintain its leadership in AI.
