The head of the technology company Palantir, Alex Karp, opposes the idea of a pause in artificial intelligence research, contrary to an open letter from the ‘Future Institute’ signed by some of the biggest names in the tech industry. The letter, which has gathered over 31,000 signatures including names like Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, called for a pause in AI research on models larger than GPT-4, which power tools like ChatGPT.
The letter also states that if ‘such a pause cannot be quickly implemented, governments should step in and impose a moratorium’.
Speaking to BBC Radio, Karp stated that he believes ‘many people calling for a pause are doing so because they have no product’.
He added, without naming anyone, that this is because ‘people who have nothing to offer want to study artificial intelligence’, but taking a pause could lead to opponents taking the lead not only in commercial applications but also in military applications, which Karp cites as the main ultimate motivation for the use of artificial intelligence.
When asked if the AI race resembles an arms race during the Cold War, Karp stated that there is already an arms race and that ‘the race will not end if we slow down now’.
He emphasized that ‘the most important event’ in this race is not large language models like GPT-4, but how AI is utilized in military applications.
Karp points out that Ukrainian forces have used Palantir technologies to gain a technological advantage over the Russian invasion. A report by The Times in December 2022 revealed that Palantir’s artificial intelligence enabled Ukraine to increase the accuracy, speed, and lethality of its artillery attacks despite relatively smaller artillery forces. Palantir sells software to governments and private sector organizations that helps them analyze large amounts of data. The emergence of this AI-powered software on the battlefield ‘just throws down the gauntlet to every country in the world’, Karp said. He added,’especially to [our] opponents, they cannot afford this advantage. And so, the race has begun. The question is only whether we will remain ahead or cede the lead’, concluded Karp.
