52% of Moroccans believe ChatGPT threatens humanity, survey finds

More than 50% of Moroccans were questioned in a survey conducted by Sunergia Group

believe that ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that uses natural language processing to generate humanlike conversational dialogue, poses a real danger to humanity.

The survey found that 30% of the respondents said that they strongly agree with the statement that ChatGPT puts humanity at risk while 20% said they somehow agree. 

It also stressed the fact that older Moroccans have a tendency to worry about the impacts of the new disruptive technology, with 100% of senior citizens (aged between 65 and more) proclaiming that ChatGPT threatens humanity, followed by 76% of Moroccans aged 35 to 44 years.

According to the report, Respondents aged between 45-54 expressed high scepticism, with 68% saying that they view the artificial intelligence chatbot as a real threat.

ChatGPT has prompted heated debate and widespread dissension on its ethical implications and dangers since its launch in November 2022 by OpenAI.

Experts express concern about the prevalence of artificial intelligence chat boxes like ChatGPT, vocalising strong disagreement with the OpenAI’s motive behind developing the model, which is to create an ultra-intelligent AI computer that surpasses the parameters of the human brain.

In an open letter published in March by the Future of Life Institute, a group of leading technology executives, researchers, and academics called for “all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT. The letter garnered more than 33,000 signatures. 

“AI labs are locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one — not even their creators — can understand, predict or reliably control,” the letter contends. The authors are concerned that “AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks.” 

Experts have also warned about the ethical implications of developing sophisticated language models that could acquire consciousness at an advanced stage. 

 The heated discussions about the threats linked to advanced General Purpose AI Systems prompted OpenAI to put together a team to “manage the risks” of developing the supercomputer.

Governments and international organisations are intensifying efforts to regulate AI development. 

On June 14, the European Parliament approved the EU AI Act, a bill that  forces models like ChatGPT to disclose all AI-generated content among other measures.

Regulatory authorities in the US have also introduced the National AI Commission Act, which aims to establish an organisation responsible for determining the country’s approach to AI.