Bengio Warns AI Arms Race Could Amplify Superintelligence Dangers

Yoshua Bengio, a leading figure in AI research, has voiced significant concerns regarding the current arms race in artificial intelligence, particularly in light of competition heightened by China's DeepSeek chatbot. He warns that the rush for AI supremacy may lead to the development of uncontrollable superhuman systems, as ethical considerations are often sidelined in the pursuit of profit and power. Bengio's remarks come ahead of the International AI Summit in Paris, where he will present the first International AI Safety Report. While he acknowledges the potential benefits of AI, he stresses the need for proper oversight to avoid catastrophic outcomes. Conversely, Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, maintains a more optimistic view, arguing that current AI systems, including large language models, do not possess true intelligence and thus may not pose imminent threats. This divergence in perspectives highlights the ongoing debate about the risks and rewards associated with advancing AI technology.