AI is becoming dangerously powerful, former Google CEO warns  

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns of AI’s risks while promoting his AI-driven drone company, White Stork, supplying Ukraine with military drones.


Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, is sounding the alarm about the potentially dangerous power of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking on various news platforms, Schmidt highlighted how AI is advancing rapidly and could soon have the ability to make decisions on its own. While he cautions that AI poses significant risks, Schmidt is also actively promoting his own AI-driven company, White Stork, which supplies Ukraine with AI-powered drones. This has raised concerns that tech leaders, while warning about AI’s potential dangers, are simultaneously pushing their own solutions for profit.

During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Schmidt warned that the future of AI is evolving toward systems that could “self-improve” and ultimately have minds of their own. He envisions a time when computers might run on their own, capable of making decisions without human intervention. He also pointed out that every individual could soon have access to the equivalent of a “polymath” in their pocket, a term used to describe someone with deep knowledge across multiple fields. While Schmidt’s comments may sound alarming, they also serve to promote his own startup, White Stork, which is creating AI-powered drones for military use.

Schmidt’s concern about AI’s potential role in warfare was also a key focus of his statements. He noted that AI-powered drones are already in use, especially in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where they are used for surveillance and dropping explosives. Schmidt advocates for keeping humans “in the loop” to maintain meaningful control over these systems, stating that the future of warfare will be dominated by “networked drones controlled by AI.

However, while Schmidt is worried about AI’s future impact, he is not without his own interests. His company, White Stork, is developing drones that use AI in ways he describes as “complicated and powerful.” The company has already supplied AI-equipped drones to Ukraine, showing that Schmidt’s warnings about AI’s potential dangers are, at least in part, a push to highlight the solutions his own company is offering.

Schmidt’s comments about the self-improvement of AI reflect a growing concern in the tech world. Many fear that as AI systems become more autonomous, they could behave in unpredictable or unethical ways. Schmidt himself acknowledges this risk but suggests that the solution lies in regulation and control. It’s a delicate balance between warning about the dangers of AI and profiting from its development.

Kindly share this story

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top