You’re worrying about the wrong kind of AI uprising, Mr Sunak

The threats posed by artificial intelligence are much more immediate than the sci-fi scenarios that the prime minister describes, writes Ryan Coogan

Are we heading for a Terminator -style future where AI “super-intelligence” turns against mankind?

It isn’t currently possible to have an open and honest discussion about the potential of AI technology. Sure, its proponents seem mostly to be trend-chasers and crypto bros, who present every uncanny piece of AI art with the proud demeanour of a tabby cat bringing its owner a dead mouse. But its opponents can be just as bad.

Rather than being frank about the potential of AI, or realistic about how fast the technology has developed, a lot of criticisms tend to be nitpicky, and avoid wider questions about its likely applications. Oh, the machine that can produce 10 completely original oil paintings in under a second has a little trouble drawing hands? Its note-perfect voice synthesizer that can replicate the voice of any celebrity or musician sounds a little tinny sometimes? Congratulations, panic over – throw the whole thing in the trash, the humans have won!

No, if we’re being honest with ourselves, this technology is going to be around for a long time – and it’s only going to get better. Which is why it was nice to hear that Rishi Sunak has been a bit more proactive about the likely robot uprising, in a speech ahead of a global AI summit in Bletchley Park next week.