Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stressed the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in his final book “Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit,” examining what the technology means for the world.
In a pre-recorded promotional video for the book released Tuesday, Kissinger said through the use of the new technology, “humanity [is] trying to wield a power which they cannot possibly understand.”
Kissinger passed away in November 2023, but wrote the book in collaboration with technology leaders Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie. It was published posthumously on Tuesday.
“Eric, Craig, and I decided to write Genesis to examine what artificial intelligence means for humanity and explore solutions to the challenges it poses,” said Kissinger, also a former National Security Advisor
He went on to describe how self-sufficient computer systems will modify the human approach to a wide-range of fields.
“These AI polymaths will revolutionize scientific discovery in profound ways, including human biology,” Kissinger added.
In the video, Mundie pointed to healthcare as an industry that could benefit from AI.
“Today, only a small part of the global population has high-quality health care. AI should be the basis of making a dramatic change in the diffusion of health care,” said the former Microsoft executive.
However, Schmidt warned of the dangers a self-sufficient system can create.
“We’re always concerned that AI will make us the dogs to them as humans,” he said on screen. “It’s important that we control our master better than dogs control us.”
Kissinger also highlighted the importance of governmental oversight and regulation during the developmental stages of integrated AI work.
“As these AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, it is imperative that governments create an environment where ethical considerations and technological advancement can progress in tandem,” Kissinger stated.
His book dives deeper into the threat of machine warfare, casualties and additional changes to functioning communities.
“The cycle of creation is entering a new phase. That phase may operate under new paradigms,” Kissinger concluded. “With sober optimism, may we meet its genesis.”
