Progress vs. Planet: Why We Need a More Ethical, European Approach to AI
We stand at a crossroads with artificial intelligence. The pace of innovation is staggering, but as we race forward, are we paying enough attention to the road beneath our feet? The conversation around AI is often dominated by capability and progress, but the more urgent questions are about sustainability and ethics.
Sustainability First, Progress Second
It's a simple, unassailable truth: sustainability must always come first. Without it, any progress is temporary. Eventually, we'll hit a wall where we can no longer advance because we've exhausted our natural resources. Some talk of grand escapes, like colonizing Mars, but as one astrophysicist wisely noted, "if we have the technology to terraform Mars, we have the technology to fix Earth". The answer isn't to find a new home; it's to take care of the one we have.
This philosophy must be the bedrock of our approach to AI. The immense energy required for data centers and training complex models cannot come at the expense of our planet. We need to funnel investment into green, renewable energy to power this technological revolution responsibly.
A Tale of Two AIs: The US vs. Europe
When we look at the global landscape, a stark contrast emerges. I don't believe the AI currently progressing in the United States is ethical. Years of deregulation have created an environment where powerful, potentially dangerous tools are released without sufficient safeguards. Take Sora 2, for example; its output is so realistic that it opens the door to massive insecurity through deepfakes and sophisticated phishing attacks. We can no longer blindly trust the products coming from a system that prioritizes speed over safety.
My alignment is much more with European and other international projects. In places like Switzerland, companies such as Proton are developing their own LLMs under the guidance of regulations and ethical boards. This is the correct model, one where we innovate within a framework that protects people and nature, ensuring they don't take a "second fiddle" to technology.
A Call for European Resilience
This isn't just about ethics; it's about resilience. AI represents a monumental shift in how we live and learn. For something this important, we cannot afford to be reliant on other countries.
The UK and the EU must work together to build our own AI resilience. We should develop our own data centers, powered by renewable energy, and create our own tools and platforms. By doing it ourselves, for ourselves, we can ensure it aligns with our values. We have the resources and the talent right here in Europe to lead the world in creating an AI ecosystem that is not only powerful but also principled.
The perfect world isn't one without AI; it's one where we've done it properly, with regulations and a deep-seated respect for our planet and its people. That's a future worth building.