There is now a broad consensus that AI research is progressing steadily, and that its impact on society is likely to increase. The potential benefits are huge, since everything that civilization has to offer is a product of human intelligence; we cannot predict what we might achieve when this intelligence is magnified by the tools AI may provide, but the eradication of disease and poverty are not unfathomable. Because of the great potential of AI, it is important to research how to reap its benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls. 

The progress in AI research makes it timely to focus research not only on making AI more capable, but also on maximizing the societal benefit of AI …

Source: Future of Life Institute, Jan. 11, 2015
Title: Research Priorities for Robust and Beneficial Artificial Intelligence: an Open Letter
Read the full Open Letter here

P. Lawson – How timely. Elon Musk and Steven Hawkings and others have already signed this open letter.

As this article points out, the focus now should be on delivering AI that is beneficial to society and robust in the sense that human benefits are guaranteed. ‘Our AI systems must do what we want them to do.’ 

This is why we began this blog. To explore ways that maximize benefits while avoiding potentially dangerous pitfalls. See point of this blog here.