An interesting survey conducted by Axios, Generation Lab, and Syracuse University has cast a new light on the possible regulatory future of artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, which polled 215 computer science professors from 65 globally renowned US universities, ventured into diverse areas encompassing AI’s future trajectory.
The survey revealed one notable sentiment – a section of experts strongly feels that there is a pressing need for a new federal agency within the US, dedicated entirely to AI governance. When asked about the optimal entity to regulate AI, 37% of professors vouched for a novel “Department of AI” government agency.
Yet, the university professors’ views invoked a conundrum. While an organized AI regulation could nurture growth and innovation in technology, it still leaves one question hanging – Could AI technology be regulated at all? A substantial 16% of respondents placed their faith in the hands of Congress to create these AI regulations. However, 2% more belittled this belief saying that AI regulation was irrelevant, doubting if AI could be regulated at all. The remaining 10% were split between a regulation by the White House (4%), the private sector (3%), or no regulation at all (3%).
This conflicting viewpoint sheds light on the possible difficulties in AI regulation. On one hand, an unregulated sector may give rise to unforeseen challenges. On the other hand, overly strict regulation may stifle innovation and growth in this sector.
On career advice for the younger generation, the overwhelming sentiment was in favor of AI, engineering, and data science. In contrast, a considerable 31% advised against a media career, with 19% suggesting a similar refrain from arts.
AI’s future evolution rallied mixed reactions among the professors. Contrary to popular belief, most academia professionals (73%) expressed skepticism about AI’s potential to replace human tasks. The poll suggests that less than 20% of current human tasks could be adequately performed by AI in the future.
It is evident that expert opinions diverge quite profoundly, particularly when contrasting the academia standpoint against that of the general public and business leaders. Therefore, a balanced approach, considering the varying viewpoints, should guide the formulation of AI policy and regulation. For a comprehensive understanding, it’s vital to delve deep into the intricacies of AI’s possible impact on society, employment, and global evolution. The insights gleaned will undoubtedly shape the future of technology and catalyze our AI pursuits in the right direction.
Source: Cointelegraph
