Artificial intelligence: A France 24 debate examines AI's existential risks

The program "Parlons-en," broadcast on France 24, devoted an episode to the question of risks posed by artificial intelligence, bringing together Bertrand Benhamou, I. Besbes and G. Grallet, according to the program description published by the channel.

The debate opens with a reference to Stanley Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey," released in the late 1960s, in which a computer named HAL turns against its creators. According to the program's description, this reference was invoked to examine whether the filmmaker had not, in 1968, anticipated a future in which artificial intelligence would become more powerful than humanity.

This parallel comes, according to France 24, after a former engineer at the company Anthropic stated that artificial intelligence could represent a threat to humanity. This statement has revived questions about the control of artificial intelligence systems and about the fundamental question of who, ultimately, controls whom, according to the program's description.

The program takes place in a context of growing public debate surrounding the risks associated with rapid development of artificial intelligence, a topic regularly addressed by researchers, engineers and technology sector leaders.