Clemens Fuest, President of the Ifo Institute, believes that the call for a slowdown in AI development is correct, though he finds it highly unlikely to be implemented. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post,” Fuest stated, “Since research is fundamentally difficult to monitor and China is unlikely to participate meaningfully, I consider the chances of an agreement for slower AI development to be low.”
The economist noted that the race for technological supremacy is not limited to leading companies in the United States; rather, it is a competition between the US and China themselves. He emphasized that possessing the most powerful AI is not merely a matter of economic importance but is also crucial for national security. Furthermore, Fuest added that efforts must be made to drive research not only toward advancement but also toward mitigating safety risks.
This comes amid recent turmoil, following appeals from major AI tech executives in the US over the weekend advocating for a reduction in the pace of AI advancement.
