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    AI could be used for a 'bad biological attack from some evil person,' ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns
    Futurology

    AI could be used for a ‘bad biological attack from some evil person,’ ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns

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    19 Comments

    1. MetaKnowing on

      “Think about North Korea, or Iran, or even Russia, who have some evil goal. This technology is fast enough for them to adopt that they could misuse it and do real harm,” he told BBC News, pointing to the risk of weapons being developed for “a bad biological attack from some evil person.”

      “I always worry about the ‘Osama bin Laden’ scenario.”

      Schmidt, who was Google CEO for a decade until 2011, has criticized European AI laws as being too strict, but in the interview, said that it was important for governments to regulate AI.

      “It’s really important that governments understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us,” he said of private sector firms developing the tech.”

    2. UnusualParadise on

      Always thought of this. AI could be used to develop new genomes for viruses, and throw out several strains out in short succession, so there’s no way to develop a single vaccine for them all.

      Also, they could make it to target people with certain genes (for example: race, personality traits, etc).

      But yeah, sure, let the thing keep going unchecked.

    3. PickingPies on

      Good thing that we are prepared and we vaccinate, have organizations dedicated to follow through, and people follow health authorities whenever necessary. /s

      Basically the maga movement have told any bioterrorist that the only thing they have to do to sow chaos into the world is to release a virus anywhere populated and then, spend a couple millions in promoting anti science propaganda.

    5. LittleForestbear on

      Bill Gates & friends is the only one that publicly said it’s a goal to depopulate. He has means and motive

    6. Brosparkles on

      “Anyways we’re going to continue sinking billions into it in the hopes we don’t have to pay you $15/hr”

    7. Gauth1erN on

      Eu laws are too stricts.

      We need to be stricter on laws.

      Go figure.

      This being said, the only country that used edge technology to get some gain on a war was the USA with the atomic bombs. So I’d add the US to the list he did. I’d also add countries using forbidden weapons, such as white phosphorus, like Israel does to the list.

      So given those 2 arguments, I think he is full of shit. Just giving a biased position best serving his own interest.

    8. BadUncleBernie on

      I think the Americans should check their water supplies as there appears to have already been a biological attack as most of them are showing signs of insanity.

    9. _FREE_L0B0T0MIES on

      Everything man has ever used for good has also been used for evil. Just look at sticks, stones, fire, and even words.

    10. disintegration7 on

      “But we’re gonna keep on doing it anyway because the only thing that matters is sending that stock price through the roof”, -that same douchebag tech CEO, three seconds later, probably.

    11. frickin_420 on

      I’m sure a lot of people here saw this paper/news from about 2 years ago: [Dual use of artificial-intelligence-powered drug discovery](https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-022-00465-9.epdf?sharing_token=douUvJ98cXUO-cBxTqYu0NRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0M6VuGuVWKcBJFL5U5ocXOA5zcnGmZOUPQzouuai7vI0XuOG1hxcfSUpHakkMxyD1NjtXRFBgFxUa9ZQI7okPtQc-7YkJa4BSKUXZqV75Cr1BQONFfkK_B6nn67L7Rh7c9fVycEGj5B5TGyJ4ap4KKqpAgdeAPL3PG7yHy8lfIuGU6ldjRcqXAvjJyWmfX5f_s%3D&tracking_referrer=www.theverge.com).

      From what I remember the researchers were saying that actual creating the molecules in a viable way is non-trivial, and there’s a long way from the program generating some nasty bioweapon molecule and actually building it. Although I’m sure that will change.

    13. One-Bad-4395 on

      Look buddy, we don’t even care about the diseases that we know about, why should I care if Eric here decides to make one too?

    16. burken8000 on

      ISIS ❌

      Russia ❌🥱

      China ❌😪

      Al’qaida ❌

      Boko haram ❌

      Donald Trump ✅😱

      IDF ❌

      Hamas ❌🫣

      Elon Musk ✅ 😰

      😂

    17. HardPass404 on

      Brilliant observation. Is Google looking for anyone else that can make broad obvious comments? I’m available.

    18. givin_u_the_high_hat on

      “North Korea, Iran, or Russia”??? Those countries have money. Imagine a poor country that constantly battles with neighbors or rebels, asking their own locally hosted AI – “how can I do the most damage possible to my enemies with what we have available in our country?” It could even be a well funded rebel group honestly.

    19. giraloco on

      Why do they need AI for bioterrorism or a nuclear attack? The technology has been around for 50+ years. We should be worried about lunatics in charge of those weapons, not AI.