Mo Gawdat, a former Google executive, recently stated on the "CEO Diary" podcast that the next 12 to 15 years will be a challenging AI dark age. He believes this unfamiliar world will have a significant impact on fundamental human values such as freedom, relationships, responsibility, and power. Gawdat pointed out that the signs of this dark age have already begun to emerge last year and will continue to intensify next year. According to his prediction, the real collapse will start in 2027.

Chip AI Drawing (1)

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service is Midjourney

Gawdat's view has changed; he used to be optimistic about artificial intelligence, but now he believes this short-term dark age is inevitable. He emphasized that AI is not the main cause of this situation, but rather it exacerbates problems already present in human society. "AI is not wrong, it's our human values that are wrong," said Gawdat. He pointed out that although the original intention of artificial intelligence was to improve people's work and life, this ideal has been distorted in a capitalist environment.

As AI technology develops, the labor market has already started to be affected. Companies use AI to increase productivity, but they choose to lay off employees or slow down hiring. This is contrary to the purpose of the technology. Gawdat pointed out that previous technological advancements often amplified human abilities and values, while the biggest value at present is pursuing profit.

In addition, Gawdat also mentioned that AI will exacerbate human evils. In the past year, issues such as AI-generated fake information, deepfake technology, and automated weapons have frequently appeared, causing concerns for society. The application of AI in the fields of surveillance and public safety is also expanding, which is particularly evident in some countries, such as China's comprehensive surveillance system. The US government has also begun to use AI to monitor incoming visitors and immigrants' social media accounts.

Despite the many challenges, Gawdat still believes that AI can bring positive changes to humanity, especially in the fields of medicine and scientific research. However, he emphasized that the government should regulate the use of AI, rather than restricting the technology itself. He used a "hammer" as an analogy, pointing out that legislation can be used to limit harm to humans, rather than limiting the tool itself.

Key Points:  

🔮 The year 2027 will mark the beginning of a 15-year AI dark age, and Gawdat emphasizes that basic human values are under threat.  

📉 AI technology has caused distortion in the labor market, with companies laying off employees to pursue higher profits.  

🛡️ Gawdat calls on the government to effectively regulate the use of AI to avoid potential social evils.