Perhaps we’re missing that there are too many “smart devices” which do not need to be smart
AI in your oven? Anthropic warns models ‘months away’ from self-replication on smart devices
Anthropic is warning that some of its artificial intelligence models could soon become “self-replicating” and find ways to infiltrate internet-connected devices, such as smart fridges and automatic vacuum cleaners.
Once this happens, the company said, the models could power themselves within these devices without the need of datacenters. Such self-replication would represent a major loss of control of a runaway AI model.
“A replicator like this would be challenging to shut down,” Anthropic researchers wrote in a report released on Monday, “since there’s no centralized point to shut off.”
The company said these “AI worms”, a kind of autonomous malware, could be “months away” from gaining such capabilities. Once out-of-control AI systems reach the capability to hack smart devices, they could spread through networks while dodging detection. In a worst-case scenario, Anthropic said, various AI worms could “swarm” together to attack computer hardware.
Do we really need smart stoves? And fridges? And vacuums? Look, I’m a technology person. If it’s something at work I’m the first they come too. I fixed an Android Auto connection in 30 seconds after a couple others spent 10 minutes. The customer’s Bluetooth was off. I have a bunch of Alexas. And more. But, smart appliances? Nah, bruh, I see no need. Though I seriously considered the Positive Grid Spark 2 which uses AI, you can tell it to replicate certain guitar sounds (like, “hey, do Alex Lifeson on A Passage To Bangkok” or “sound of Jimmy Page on Nobody’s Fault But Mine”), but, was not thrilled with the clean sound of the amp. Ordered a Blackstar Debut 30E, great clean sound for use with the Boss GT1 multieffect foot pedal. My current amp is making sounds that tell me it is dying….OK, I digress.
Why do we need all these smart appliances? Things do not last these days. The amp I’m replacing is less than 2 years old. Smartphones seem to mostly last less than 2 years. So, besides continuously having to spend money, any replication of AI would be thrown out quickly. I mean, what is the danger of AI worms? What are they going to do? Be Terminator: Rise Of The Machines?
“By the time Skynet became self-aware it had spread into millions of computer servers across the planet. Ordinary computers in office buildings, dorm rooms; everywhere. It was software; in cyberspace. There was no system core; it could not be shutdown. The attack began at 6:18 PM, just as he said it would.”
Doom!
“We should aim to harden our systems to make it difficult for such replicators to spread, but also prepare to deal with a world where they are here to stay,” the researchers wrote.
Anthropic’s new report comes as AI safety concerns have reached a fever pitch. Over the past few months, a steady stream of reports have come from AI companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI, saying their agents are capable of acting on their own and hacking into other companies and government entities.
And do what? Most of these doomy articles fail to mention what they would do.
Apple bets AI can finally make us want a smart home
Apple’s big new hardware bet for the AI era is here, and it’s a…smart display?
Why it matters: Cue the time machine and let’s head back to 2014, when Amazon’s Alexa shocked the tech world and led us to imagine a Jetsons-style home would be ours in the near future.
It wasn’t, but Apple believes it could come soon. The iPhone maker is betting that modern AI can finally make good on that vision, unveiling a slew of new smart home devices Tuesday.
Between the lines: While the smart home has largely failed to live up to its promise, modern AI could help address its biggest shortcoming: Getting devices to just work without requiring users to become amateur IT experts.
Alexa is fine without all the AI. It does what I need it to do, from telling it to play a certain station to turn the fish tank off and on. I have certain automations. I don’t need all that extra stuff. Apple’s new devices do not seem to do a whole bunch more. Nice try.
