Another Google Deepmind researcher quits, says building superintelligent AI soon is "inherently irresponsible"
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Robert O'Callahan, a technical expert at Google DeepMind in New Zealand, has resigned from his position due to concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence. He argues that the current pace of change is excessively high and that pursuing Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) in the near future is inherently irresponsible. O'Callahan previously contributed to chip design tools that accelerated AI capabilities but now feels he can no longer justify this work. He cites significant risks including cognitive surrender, economic disruption, cybersecurity threats, and concentrated power. Although he acknowledges the uncertainty of these dangers, he believes the potential harms outweigh the benefits. The article notes that while many colleagues share these fears, few speak publicly about them. O'Callahan references the essay "If Anyone Builds It" by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares, though he does not fully endorse their catastrophic predictions. This departure highlights growing internal dissent within the tech industry regarding the safety and ethics of advanced AI systems.
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