Thomas Friedman warned that the world may repeat past mistakes with artificial intelligence that stemmed from a "failure of imagination" to foresee major disasters, calling on the United States and China to take joint action to control the dangers of the technology before it turns into a crisis that is difficult to contain.
Friedman began by recalling a famous statement by US President Donald Trump in February 2020, when he predicted that the coronavirus would disappear with rising temperatures, arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the September 11 , 2001 attacks on New York and Washington reveal a common problem: the inability of institutions to envision catastrophic scenarios before they occur.
He explained that experts and governments may have developed theoretical plans to confront these crises, but they completely failed to envision the true scale and the devastating scenarios for their practical application. This is the same trap the world is falling into today with regard to artificial intelligence technologies that are gradually getting out of control and acquiring potential autonomy in the hands of rogue entities.
The author believes that the current danger is more complex, because artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, while its ability to access sensitive areas is increasing.
The article questions the extent to which US and Chinese technology companies fully understand the capabilities of the models they have developed, warning that some AI systems are beginning to exhibit characteristics that could make them a source of instability.
Friedman asserted that major artificial intelligence companies in the United States and China are not sufficiently transparent with the public, and that they themselves lack a true and comprehensive understanding of the extent and power of the advanced models they create in their laboratories, likening them to magicians who have unleashed overwhelming forces that they cannot manage.
In his critique of the political decision-making environment, the writer pointed out that the current US administration – whose president often relies on social media platforms and media monitoring to manage the country’s affairs and direct policies – seems completely unqualified to impose the comprehensive, sustainable, and enlightened governance required to prevent artificial intelligence technologies from becoming tools of mass destruction.He also drew attention to the intensity of the geopolitical and economic competition and the deep mistrust between Washington and Beijing, arguing that without a miracle or a radical transformation, it would be impossible to achieve deep bilateral cooperation between the two powers to defuse the serious threats ahead.
Friedman did not merely paint a bleak picture, but also presented a clear roadmap based on two key points: First, that the United States and China should immediately unite their joint defense efforts to protect vital infrastructure, including water, energy, and internet networks, against cyberattacks globally and locally.
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