Paper

Bridging Today and the Future of Humanity: AI Safety in 2024 and Beyond

Han, Shanshan

2024

Overview

The advancements in generative AI inevitably raise concerns about the associated risks and safety implications, which, in return, catalyzes significant progress in AI safety. However, as this field continues to evolve, a critical question arises: are our current efforts aligned with the long-term goal of human history and civilization? This paper presents a blueprint for an advanced human society and leverages this vision to guide contemporary AI safety efforts. It outlines a future where the Internet of Everything becomes reality, and creates a roadmap of significant technological advancements towards this envisioned future. For each stage of the advancements, this paper forecasts potential AI safety issues that humanity may face. By projecting current efforts against this blueprint, we examine the alignment between the present efforts and the long-term needs. We also identify gaps in current approaches and highlight unique challenges and missions that demand increasing attention from AI safety practitioners in the 2020s, addressing critical areas that must not be overlooked in shaping a responsible and promising future of AI. This vision paper aims to offer a broader perspective on AI safety, emphasizing that our current efforts should not only address immediate concerns but also anticipate potential risks in the expanding AI landscape, thereby promoting a more secure and sustainable future in human civilization.

• Publisher: Cornell University Library, arXiv.org