Tech billionaires Musk, Zuckerberg trade barbs over artificial intelligence
SAN FRANCISCO — Visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg were trading jabs on social media over artificial intelligence this week in a debate that has turned personal between the two technology luminaries.
Musk, the founder of Tesla, SpaceX and other ventures, on Tuesday claimed Zuckerberg鈥檚 knowledge of artificial intelligence was 鈥渓imited,鈥 two days after the Facebook founder described 鈥渘aysayers鈥 as 鈥渋rresponsible.鈥
The debate underscored the rift in the tech community on whether new technologies capable of creating intelligent machines like robots and self-driving cars would be a blessing or a curse for humanity.
Musk has long warned of the potential for machines to get so smart that humans become tantamount to pets, while Zuckerberg has touted the potential for artificial intelligence to improve lives.
Facebook is among the Silicon Valley鈥檚 largest investors in artificial intelligence.
While live streaming on the leading social network from his yard on Sunday, Zuckerberg touched on the topic while answering questions from viewers.
鈥淲ith AI especially, I am really optimistic,鈥 Zuckerberg said.
鈥淎nd I think people who are naysayers and try to drum up these doomsday scenarios — I just, I don鈥檛 understand it. It鈥檚 really negative and in some ways I actually think it is pretty irresponsible.鈥
When asked about Zuckerberg鈥檚 comment early Tuesday during an exchange on Twitter, Musk wrote that he has discussed the topic with Zuckerberg and that 鈥渉is understanding of the subject is limited.鈥
Musk more than a year ago took part in creating a nonprofit research company devoted to developing artificial intelligence that will help people and not hurt them.
At a gathering of US governors this month, he argued for the technology to be regulated sooner rather than later for risk of safeguards being put in place too late. Smart machines could start wars or kill people in streets, he has warned.
Zuckerberg last year created his own personal 鈥渂utler鈥 imbued with artificial intelligence, named Jarvis, which plays with his family. — AFP
