'It has a real 'ring of power' dynamic to it, and makes people do crazy things' says Sam Altman on AI after alleged arson attack on home

‘It has a real ‘ring of power’ dynamic to it, and makes people do crazy things’ says Sam Altman on AI after alleged arson attack on home | PC Gamer Skip to main content Join The Club – Join our community JOIN NOW 11Premium Benefits 24/7Access Available 28K+Active Members Exclusive Articles Member-only articles Weekly Newsletters Gaming & entertainment news Commenting Join the discussion Member Badges Earn badges as you go Exclusive Competitions Members-only prize draws Early Access See the latest gaming news first GET CLUB ACCESS QUICK For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE Want to subscribe to the magazine? 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Signup + Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo’s new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play. Signup + Every Saturday The Watchlist Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered. Signup + Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Signup + Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Last week, someone reportedly threw an incendiary device at OpenAI chief Sam Altman’s house. Though Altman reports “it bounced off the house and no one got hurt”, he has taken to his blog to share his thoughts on the incident.Altman initially lays out his beliefs. He claims that “working towards prosperity for everyone” is a “moral obligation” and that AI “will be the most powerful tool for expanding human capability and potential that anyone has ever seen.”He then argues that people are justifiably worried about AI and that it will have negative consequences, but it must be democratised and must be adaptable. Altman says, “No one understands the impacts of superintelligence yet, but they will be immense.” He then reflects on his own character, noting he has made many mistakes in his time with OpenAI and that he is “a flawed person in the center of an exceptionally complex situation.”Altman notes artificial general intelligence (AGI), AI that can match human intelligence, has a certain power to it that makes people act in peculiar ways.The OpenAI CEO says, “My personal takeaway from the last several years, and take on why there has been so much Shakespearean drama between the companies in our field, comes down to this: ‘Once you see AGI you can’t unsee it.”He even likens it to the one ring in The Lord of the Rings, which is wielded by Sauron to dominate others and corrupts most of those who touch it. An interesting comparison for someone trying to sell the benefits of AGI, though Altman is quick to point out that it’s not like the ring itself, but just a good summary of the argument arou