Vitalik Buterin warns of the risks of uncontrolled AI and proposes decentralized solutions

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum , recently shared his concerns about the potential dangers of uncontrolled Artificial Intelligence (AI), a topic that has sparked heated debate in the tech community.

In his remarks, Buterin warned that improper handling of AI could lead to the creation of autonomous and self-replicating entities, posing a real risk to humanity. He stressed that if the development of AI is not accompanied by effective controls and regulations, the end result could be “permanent human disempowerment.” This vision, while worrying, serves as an important call to reflect on the future of technology and its impact on society.

However, Buterin also highlighted the positive potential of AI. According to him, when used correctly, AI can significantly contribute to the progress of human civilization, ushering in an era of superintelligence and prosperity in the world. The key, therefore, lies in how we choose to develop and implement this technology.

In his vision, Buterin made it clear that not all AI poses a threat. Systems like chatbots, for example, are designed to improve the user experience and offer tangible benefits. The problem arises when AI operates autonomously for long periods of time, without proper human supervision. In such cases, AI can become a threat, defying human control and potentially harming the well-being of society.

To avoid these risks, Buterin suggests that AI should be designed to complement and amplify human intelligence, acting as tools that enhance people’s collective capabilities. Rather than replacing humanity, AI should work alongside us, enhancing our abilities and helping us solve complex problems.

“AI done wrong is creating new forms of independent, self-replicating intelligent life. AI done right is mechanical suits for the human mind. If we do the former without the latter, we risk permanent loss of human power. If we do the latter, a superintelligent human civilization will flourish.” stated . “Distilled human judgment is one way to do the latter at the collective level. Many current creative tools for AI video generation show the cutting edge of what this looks like at the individual level. Not “notice and wait,” but rather constantly targeting and adjusting in real time.”

In this sense, Buterin proposes the concept of “Decentralized and Democratic Defense”, or the so-called “d/Acc”, to deal with these challenges. This innovative approach aims to develop decentralized tools aimed at mitigating the risks arising from the advancement of AI.