This Article First Appeared In Indian Express On May 1, 2023
Sitting on the front lawn of my cottage in the forest sanctuary of Binsar in the Kumaon hills, I am struggling to pick my way between the arguments on whether the further development of Artificial General Intelligence should be paused or not.
Regular readers will know I write an occasional column from the remote fastness of this sanctuary. My cottage can only be approached by foot. The nearest market is a 45-minute drive and I have to haul up the provisions required for the duration of my stay; there is no grid electricity (I have installed solar) and no running water (I source rainwater from tanks). But there is connectivity. I have access to 4G telephony and WiFi. I am therefore able to keep track of worldly affairs.