Seth Taube evaluates the ethics of AI: can the market guarantee responsible development?

In the world of technology, where change is rapid and constant, these emotions are often amplified by new developments in areas such as biotechnology, neurotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past year, the latter has become one of the most pressing issues in this dichotomy, especially among philanthropists, investors and entrepreneurs like Seth Taube.

Widely recognized as a prolific investor with extensive experience building, investing in and advising multi-billion dollar companies, Taube knows the ins and outs of the technology industry inside and out. Over the past decade, Taube’s philanthropic efforts have led him to take a sharp turn toward the ethical dimensions of technology. This professional experience and humanism have led Taube to become a major advocate for the responsible development of artificial intelligence, which he believes will depend on both the market and regulators.

“The media, public and political leaders have chosen to focus on the role that regulators will play when it comes to ensuring the responsible development of AI technology, ignoring the immense influence that markets have,” says Taube, who has often emphasized the moral Neutrality of technologies such as artificial intelligence. “This perspective ignores the fact that markets are not passive spectators of AI’s ethical journey. The truth is that investors and consumers have much more power than they often realize.”

Taube’s belief in the market’s ability to influence the moral compass of technologies like artificial intelligence is based primarily on the idea that it is about much more than just economics. Reflecting collective values ​​and demands, as well as competition, this would not be the first time the market serves as a catalyst for ethical progress.

“AI pioneers like Sam Altman have regularly called on regulators to take action to prevent the negative externalities of AI,” adds Taube, referring to the OpenAI CEO’s remarks during a Senate hearing and meetings with leaders international. . “These observations ignore the impact of market dynamics in the exploitation and control of ethical AI development.”

With its CEO facing mounting criticism, OpenAI first saw ChatGPT user numbers decline in June, less than a month after the official launch of its IoT mobile app. While this is not necessarily due to the growing number of controversies surrounding the platform, it is an indication that competition is increasing. Historically, this competition has acted as an accelerator not only of innovation, but also of ethical progress, especially when companies aim to attract users from generations known for their ethical consumption.

“As investors and consumers, we can harness the power of the market to navigate the uncharted waters of AI with a solid moral compass,” concludes Taube. “This will not only result in prioritizing social well-being, but also in creating more sustainable technology that doesn’t eat its own tail and end up becoming the cause of its own obsolescence.”