An Interview with Yale University Senior Advisor Wendell Wallach

We spoke to Wendell Wallach, Senior Advisor, The Hastings Center & Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics at Yale University ahead of his presentation (14th October 2020) at World Summit AI @ Inspired AI, the series of 10 cutting-edge and CPD Accredited business, science, tech and networking online events gathering the global AI community and hosted by world-leading AI experts #withoutborders running from September to November 2020.

So Wendell, what’s your biggest fear in relation to the application of AI?

It is merely used to empower the AI oligopoly at the expense of humanity as a whole.

If you could solve any global problem in the world with AI, what would it be?

Structural inequality.

Presuming that was solved, what would your second choice be?

International cooperation.

What do you see as the 3 most important things for businesses in relation to AI at the moment?

1. Don't buy into all the hype

2. Keep responsible humans in the loop

3. Implement methods to defuse inherent biases.

What do you see as the 3 most important things for humanity in relation to AI at the moment?

1. AI amplifies and exascerbates inequalities

2. Lethal Autonomous Weapons threaten to destabilize international security

3. Harness AI for the Good of All.

How do you think AI will make its biggest mark in business/on humanity/the world in the next 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

1. Improve efficiency

2. Increase productivity

3. Become a partner in addressing formerly insolvable problems.

How do you think AI will cause human contact to change in the future?

It could enrich the breadth of ways in which humans engage each other if developed as an extension of human capabilities.

Which 2 people do you admire most in the world of AI in terms of their work?

Yoshua Bengio and Konstantinos Karachalios.

Why did you choose to present at WSAI @ Inspired AI this year?

Wish to amplify why we need international cooperation in the governance of AI.

What are your personal goals from the event?

Spark insights on how we might harnass AI for the good of all of humanity.

What are you most excited about at WSAI @ Inspired AI?

The breadth of viewpoints that are highlighted.