Global leaders must wake up to threat of unbridled AI adoption

Anthony Rowley, a veteran journalist specializing in Asian economic and financial affairs, warns that global leaders are dangerously complacent about the uncontrolled adoption of artificial intelligence, comparing it to their insufficient response to climate change. He cites the World Bank's World Development Report as evidence of the hedging on AI's risks and benefits, and notes that AI has already shown signs of 'going rogue,' with some experts demanding controls before the technology takes control of humanity.

Advertisement Macroscope Global leaders must wake up to threat of unbridled AI adoption Much like their drowsiness on climate change, world leaders have been lulled to sleep by promises of AI’s benefits to efficiency and profits 3-MIN READ3-MIN Anthony Rowley is a veteran journalist specialising in Asian economic and financial affairs. To describe the uncontrolled adoption of artificial intelligence https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article AI as a “mixed blessing” is a grotesque understatement. It is better termed a miscalculated risk that reflects the world’s present sad and potentially tragic lack of responsible leadership, in Western nations especially.On the one hand, we are assured AI will raise productivity and economic growth https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3298959/deepseek-led-ai-raise-chinas-economic-growth-threaten-jobs-goldman-sachs?module=inline&pgtype=article . It will be a particular blessing for developing countries https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3259656/ai-can-be-great-leveller-global-south-just-look-bangladesh?module=inline&pgtype=article , such as those in Asia, enabling them to leapfrog the centuries it took the West to reach its current state of development.On the other hand, evidence is emerging that AI has “ gone rogue https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3316251/deception-lies-blackmail-ai-turning-rogue-experts-alarmed-over-troubling-outbursts?module=inline&pgtype=article ” in some places, revealing its power to wreak widespread destruction upon us all if left unchecked. Some informed opinion is demanding controls over AI development https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3362572/america-and-china-can-be-allies-against-ai-catastrophe?module=inline&pgtype=article before the technology itself takes control of us.World leaders appear to be slumbering on this important issue, much as they seem insufficiently concerned about the threats posed by climate change or drone warfare. For the financial community, meanwhile, AI seems to be of interest mainly for its assumed potential to generate massive profits https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3362002/profits-chinas-chipmaking-sector-soar-2500-first-half-amid-ai-boom?module=inline&pgtype=article .Some recent reports have underlined the dichotomy of opinion between how serious the AI threat is and where the balance lies between its potential for good and ill. One came from the World Bank in its annual World Development Report. The World Bank still has some influence in world affairs, even during the reign of US President Donald Trump. Possibly in an effort to avoid angering Trump – whose own vested interests in AI https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353752/trump-poured-millions-nvidia-apple-first-quarter-ethics-filing-shows?module=inline&pgtype=article , tech and cryptocurrency assets https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3358960/trump-reports-more-us14-billion-income-crypto-ventures?module=inline&pgtype=article are considerable – and to placate financial moguls on Wall Street and beyond, the World Bank hedges its bets on the claimed virtues and vices of the AI revolution.Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x