AI, nuclear power and the end of the Earth
Tech companies now acknowledge that they are failing to meet their carbon emission reduction goals because of the mega-computing necessary for artificial intelligence—as if AI were something good and inevitable rather than ultra-dystopian. Meanwhile, the nuclear industry exploits carbon concerns to lubricate its comeback—with even countries like Kenya now planning reactors, amid oppressive and iniquitous social conditions. Even apart from the risk of devastating accidents, the normal functioning of nuclear power constitutes an ongoing disaster due to the dilemmas of waste disposal and the despoliation of indigenous lands by uranium mining. Climate disaster versus nuclear disaster is a false choice posed by omnicidal techno-capitalism. The only way to salvage a dignified human future lies in the abolition of fossil fuels, nuclear power and artificial intelligence alike. So argues Bill Weinberg in Episode 234 of the CounterVortex podcast. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon.
Production by Chris Rywalt
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AI abolition call gains traction
Promoting Enduring Peace website takes up our call to abolish artificial intelligence....
EU artificial intelligence act officially enters into force
The European Union's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act officially enters into force on Thursday. This AI Act is the first legislation on artificial intelligence in the world.
The act categorizes the risks a specific use of AI poses into four levels. Uses which pose a minimal risk, such as videogames or spam filters, are permitted and not regulated by the act. The second level poses a limited risk while a third is identified as high-risk and is subject to strict criteria to access the EU market.
Finally, AI that poses unacceptable risks is banned in its entirety. This includes "systems considered a threat to people’s safety, livelihoods, and individual rights." The rules will gradually be applied over two years, yet all bans on prohibited practices will be applied within the first six months. (Jurist)
Council of Europe opens world’s first global AI treaty
The Council of Europe opened the world’s first legally binding global treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) for signature on Sept. 5. Unveiled at a conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, this historic treaty sets a new international standard by ensuring that AI systems align with human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law.
Formally known as the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225), the treaty is hailed as a pivotal moment in global AI regulation. (Jurist)