Amazon Joins Ranks of Tech Giants Demanding Safer AI Development
Amazon has weighed in on the artificial intelligence (AI) safety debate, calling for rigorous testing and safeguards before releasing AI models. The company says it doesn't see a choice between progress and safety, but rather believes that models should be released when they're ready and safe to use.
This comes after many of the largest AI labs called for slower development following an outcry among researchers who fear the technology could evade human control and threaten global systems. Amazon develops AI models through its Amazon Web Services subsidiary and in a unit devoted to artificial general intelligence (AGI), which powers voice assistant Alexa, among other services.
The company's views were provided in response to a Reuters inquiry, with an unnamed spokesperson saying that there are risks if the industry doesn't work together on safety. Amazon is also a leading infrastructure provider for AI labs and helps other companies gain access to competitors' models through its Bedrock marketplace.