The AI Arms Race and the Question We Aren't Asking

“AI’s consumerism model in the United States isn’t inherently evil. Neither is China’s government-centralized model. AI itself isn’t necessarily harmful to society. However, the * G-MAFIA are profit-driven, publicly traded companies that must answer to Wall Street, regardless of the altruistic intentions of their leaders and employees. In China, the ** BAT are beholden to the Chinese government, which has already decided what’s best for the Chinese. What I want to know - and what you should demand an answer to - is what’s best for all of humanity? As AI matures, how will the decisions we make today be reflected in the decisions machines make for us in the future?” - From The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans & Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity, by Amy Webb, Public Affairs, New York, 2019, PG 96.

AI models in the US and China are not inherently evil, but they are shaped by different forces. US AI is driven by consumerism and profit-seeking tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, etc. Chinese AI is controlled by the government.

While AI itself is not necessarily harmful, the major US tech companies are beholden to shareholders and profits, not societal good. Chinese AI serves the government's interests, not necessarily citizens' interests.

Webb questions which AI development model will serve humanity's interests best in the long run. She argues that as AI advances, we must decide now the values and priorities we want AI to reflect autonomously.

She argues that we should thoughtfully shape it to serve humanity's interests, not just corporations' or governments' interests.

*G-MAFIA: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, IBM, & Amazon

**BAT: Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent