‘Oppenheimer moment’: Christopher Nolan warns of ‘terrifying possibilities’ of artificial intelligence

Speaking after the Oppenheimer preview in New York, Christopher Nolan spoke at length about artificial intelligence, its stakes and dangers, while the topic is especially hot.

Surrounded by a group of scientists and physicists, as well as author Kai Bird, who co-authored it American Prometheus: J. The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert OppenheimerBased on Nolan’s book, the filmmaker spoke about the rise of companies over the past 15 years that “used words as algorithms” without knowing what they really meant.

People in my field talk about it, they just don’t want to take responsibility for everything that this algorithm does. With artificial intelligence, this is a terrifying possibility. Terrifying. Not least because AI systems will eventually move into defense infrastructure. They will be responsible for nuclear weapons. To say that it is a separate entity from the human who owns, programs and uses this AI, then we are doomed. It should be about accountability. We need people to be held accountable for what they do with the tools they have.

A new feature film Christopher Nolan It tells how J. Robert Oppenheimer for the US military to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. Cillian Murphy plays a theoretical physicist who leads a cast that also includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Florence Pugh, among others.

AI and Actors Strike

The director’s comments come as the entertainment industry is at a virtual standstill, with strikes by actors and writers raging in Hollywood. Among many other disagreements with the studios, one of the main issues for both unions is the issue of artificial intelligence and its potential existential impact on work practices in the entertainment industry.

“With the labor disputes going on in Hollywood right now, a lot of them — when we’re talking about artificial intelligence, when we’re talking about these things — ultimately stem from the same factors that happen when you innovate in technology. , you must maintain accountability“, he added Christopher Nolan.

“The Oppenheimer Moment”

Asked whether the Oppenheimer case will continue to be revisited as our understanding of quantum physics continues, he said he hopes it will. “When I talk to leading AI researchers now, for example, they literally refer to this – right now – as their “Oppenheimer moment”. They look at history and ask, “What are the responsibilities of scientists who develop new technologies that may have unintended consequences?“

Later he continues:I’m not saying that Oppenheimer’s story offers easy answers to these questions, but it can show where some of that responsibility lies, and how people take a moment to breathe and think, “Okay, what is responsibility?“

In an op-ed published by The New York Times last May, artificial intelligence pioneer Dr. Jeffrey Hinton regretted his life’s work. His work at the University of Toronto laid the groundwork for the tech industry’s investment in generative artificial intelligence, which now powers chatbots like ChatGPT.

“I console myself with the usual excuse: if I didn’t do it, someone else would.Dr. Hinton told The Times. “It’s hard to see how you can stop bad actors from using it for bad things.“The prospect is truly terrifying.

Oppenheimer hits theaters on July 19.