During the recently concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, leaders from around the world gathered to delve into the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence (AI).
Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta, outlined the company’s responsible approach to AI development and its commitment to ensuring ethical use in this year’s elections.
In a statement, Mr Clegg expressed Meta’s belief that progress and vigilance can coexist in the realm of AI.
The company, which has been a pioneer in AI development for over a decade, emphasizes the potential benefits of AI technologies, from enhancing productivity to accelerating scientific research.
Mr Clegg stressed the importance of developing AI in a transparent and accountable manner, with built-in safeguards to mitigate potential risks.
Meta showcased real-world examples of AI progress, including collaborations with institutions like Yale, EPFL, New York University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
“These partnerships have yielded breakthroughs such as the creation of Meditron, an open-source Large Language Model tailored for medical use, and advancements in AI-driven medical research and renewable energy storage,” He noted.
A key aspect of Meta’s approach is its commitment to an open innovation model.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg outlined the company’s long-term vision to build general intelligence, open-source it responsibly, and make it widely available for the benefit of everyone.
Meta has a history of sharing AI technologies openly, making tools like Llama 2, PyTorch, and Seamless available to the public and fostering collaborations with major tech companies.
The debate around open-source versus proprietary AI models has been ongoing, and Meta’s stance aligns with a growing trend favoring openness, as highlighted by the discussions at Davos.
Mr Clegg emphasized that an open approach promotes collaboration, scrutiny, and faster innovation, providing accountability by enabling external evaluation of AI models.
Addressing concerns about the misuse of AI tools during elections, “Meta is actively engaged in discussions with experts and is enforcing policies to combat misuse, regardless of whether content is generated by AI or people.”
Mr Clegg emphasized Meta’s collaboration with other companies, such as through the Partnership on AI, to develop industry standards and guardrails for responsible AI use.