Melinda Gates says she is “very nervous.” AI will be biased without female developers
Melinda French Gates has shared that she is “very nervous about artificial intelligence” being baked with bias because there is a lack of women developing such tools.
The comments appear to sting ex-husband Bill Gates, 67, who is in charge of the systems and has faced allegations of sexual harassment from former female staff.
“We don’t have enough female computer scientists and artificial intelligence expertise,” French Gates, 58, told CNN on Thursday.
She went on to explain that the technology needs to “take all people’s points of view and see society and, quite frankly, see the world big as it is.”
The comments were the first time she spoke about the systems her ex-husband says are “as revolutionary as mobile phones and the internet.”
Melinda French Gates spoke to CNN about how she is “very nervous” about AI being baked with bias. She said more women need to be involved in developing systems
The statements came on the same day it was revealed that women were applying for jobs at Gates’ private office were routinely asked inappropriate questions, including whether they would ever “dance for dollars” or contract sexually transmitted diseases, according to some former candidates who The Wall Street Journal.
A Gates spokesperson told DailyMail.com: “Our recruitment process is conducted with the utmost respect for each candidate, with a zero-tolerance policy for all entrants, including service providers, who violate this principle.
“Furthermore, any implication of any connection between Bill Gates’ personal history and an independent background check, identical for men and women, is outrageous.”
However, French Gates has continued his work as a philanthropist and women’s advocate, sparking the conversation about AI on Thursday.
French Gates’ comments followed a discussion about the need for more women in public office.
“When you let women create something, make a decision or enact that law, you bring that perspective of society that’s so essential,” she said, explaining the moment in her post-divorce life as “joyful.”
The couple divorced last year after a 27-year marriage, during which he was rumored to have had at least one affair with a Russian bridge player.
In March, Gates, 67, shared his support for the advancement of artificial intelligence, touting the ChatGPT-like technology.
He believes “the rise of AI” is poised to improve humanity, increase productivity, reduce global inequalities and accelerate the development of new vaccines.
Gates has acknowledged that AI is likely to be “so disruptive.” [that it] will undoubtedly make people uncomfortable” because it “raises tough questions about workforce, privacy, bias and more.”
French Gates didn’t seem so hopeful about AI in the CNN interview but is optimistic that women could change the technology’s predicted bias path.
The current powerhouses in the AI industry are OpenAI, Microsoft and Google – all with men at the helm.
Though brief, it was her first time speaking about the systems her ex-husband Bill Gates says are “as revolutionary as cell phones and the Internet.”
However, French Gates gave no details on how women’s views would improve technology.
Musk has taken steps to prevent the dangers of AI from becoming a reality.
In March, SpaceX’s CEO and more than 1,000 other technology leaders signed an open letter describing the potential risks to society and civilization posed by human-competitive AI systems in the form of economic and political disruptions — and called on developers to working with policymakers on governance and regulatory bodies.
This would be possible if AI reaches singularity, a hypothetical future where technology surpasses human intelligence and changes the path of our evolution – and this is expected to happen in 2045.
AI should first pass the Turing test.
If so, the technology is believed to have independent intelligence, allowing it to replicate itself into an even more powerful system that humans cannot control.
Concerned technology leaders have asked all AI labs to halt development of their products for at least six months while more risk assessment is done.
In March, SpaceX’s CEO and more than 1,000 other technology leaders signed an open letter detailing the potential risks to society and civilization posed by human-competing AI systems. This will happen when AI reaches the singularity, which is expected to happen in 2045
When labs refuse, they want governments to “step in.” Musk fears that the technology will become so advanced that human intervention will no longer be needed – or listened to.
Gates and Google CEO Sundar Pichai did not sign the letter.
Many have wondered if a personal vendetta between Musk and Gates, who have argued over climate change and the COVID pandemic, is part of the Silicon Valley rift. But Musk has been warning about the dangers of AI for years.
Some speculate that Musk is against the technology because they are not in charge.
Musk founded OpenAI with Sam Altman, the company’s CEO, but in 2018 the billionaire attempted to take over the startup.
His request was denied, forcing him to leave OpenAI and move on to his other projects.
Musk recently dismissed ChatGPT as “awake” and deviating from OpenAI’s original non-profit mission.
“OpenAI was created as an open source (that’s why I called it ‘Open’ AI), non-profit company to counterbalance Google, but now it has become a closed source, maximum profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft, tweeted Musk in February.