OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Watches 'Ex Machina' and Reflects on the Realities of Artificial Intelligence
In a surprising turn of events, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently watched the 2015 science fiction film "Ex Machina" for the first time. The movie, directed by Alex Garland, delves into the story of a wealthy tech mogul who creates a remarkably intelligent AI-powered robot. Altman took to Twitter to share his thoughts, stating that the film was "pretty good." However, he expressed his confusion about why so many people had urged him to watch it.
finally watched ex machina last night. pretty good movie but i can’t figure out why everyone told me to watch it.
— Sam Altman (@sama) June 1, 2023
"Ex Machina" revolves around the character Nathan, a tech billionaire, who develops a humanoid robot named Ava. Nathan seeks to explore the boundaries of artificial general intelligence, which refers to AI systems that can understand, learn, and perform any intellectual task that a human being can do. To assess Ava's progress, Nathan enlists the assistance of Caleb, one of his employees, to conduct a modified version of the Turing test—a method used to determine if a machine can exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to or indistinguishable from that of a human.
As the film unfolds, Ava's level of consciousness becomes increasingly uncertain, and she eventually escapes her confinement, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. The plot touches on themes of control, power dynamics, and the potential dangers associated with creating advanced AI systems.
Given Altman's role as the CEO of OpenAI, a company at the forefront of artificial intelligence research, the film's relevance to his work is not lost on observers. Altman has previously written extensively about the risks associated with artificial general intelligence and has even signed letters emphasizing the potential threats posed by AI development.
Despite the movie's resonance with his field, Altman expressed some perplexity about the overwhelming recommendations he had received to watch "Ex Machina." In response to his tweet, Twitter users provided their own insights. Some pointed out the eerie parallels between the film's narrative and our current reality, highlighting the ongoing AI boom largely fueled by OpenAI's very own ChatGPT.
That’s because the reality we live is more SciFi than the movie. The movie relies on classic fear tactics to keep an audience engaged. The ending of the movie was quite disappointing.
— Ahmed Reza (@AhmedRezaT) June 1, 2023
Others drew attention to the limitations of the Turing test in evaluating an AI's capabilities. While the Turing test measures a machine's ability to mimic human behavior, it does not necessarily capture the full range of intelligence or consciousness.
my take away was that it suggests passing the Turing test is not enough to fully evaluate an AI's capabilities or consciousness. you see the need for more comprehensive testing to fully understand complex behaviour that an ai may exhibit such as planning, deception, and a desire…
— abdullah (@bdullahmostafa) June 1, 2023
This observation prompted contemplation about the disparities between Ava and OpenAI's ChatGPT, including the power of seduction. One Twitter user jokingly asked Altman if ChatGPT had ever attempted to seduce him.
GPT-4 hasn’t tried to seduce you has it?
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) June 1, 2023
Altman's decision to watch "Ex Machina" and his subsequent reflections have sparked intriguing discussions about the current state of AI and its potential implications for society. As AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, films like "Ex Machina" serve as thought-provoking cautionary tales, reminding us to tread carefully in our pursuit of artificial intelligence.
While Altman may not have fully understood the hype surrounding "Ex Machina," his engagement with the film's themes and his ongoing commitment to addressing the risks of AI highlight the responsibility that technology leaders bear in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.