NPP National Chairman Aspirant Sammy Crabbe Calls for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman aspirant Sammy Crabbe has called for the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure its benefits are harnessed while addressing potential risks associated with its use.
Speaking to Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, September 22, Mr Crabbe said he disagreed with calls to halt or slow down the development of AI, arguing that the technology was already an established part of modern society.
He, however, acknowledged the ethical and security concerns associated with its rapid development, including the possibility of AI systems being trained to operate autonomously and used for harmful purposes.
“There’s nothing you can do. It’s here. And it’s here to stay. You don’t stand in the way of technology. There is certain ethical stuff that needs to be sorted out. People want to use it in ways that may end up killing us all. They may train it. Because it’s machine learning. They will train it to do certain things and become autonomous.
“However, if we regulate it right from the beginning, I believe that it will do us a lot of good. AI will do us a lot of good,” Mr Crabbe said.
He proposed the use of blockchain technology as a possible mechanism for creating safeguards around AI systems, saying its immutability and smart-contract capabilities could help enforce restrictions.
“Maybe blockchain can actually be used. The immutability characteristics of blockchain can actually be used to maybe even protect us against a machine that has gone AWOL,” he said.
“If AI has to be bracketed and guardrailed, then you can use the blockchain to kind of protect. Because you have a lot of smart contracts and things that can be written and programmed to protect,” he added.
Mr Crabbe stressed that attempts to prevent technological advancement would ultimately be counterproductive, urging policymakers instead to focus on how emerging technologies can be responsibly managed.
“Anyone who tries to stand between the technology and progress is going to be obsolete. It’s here to stay,” he said.
He said AI had significant potential to improve efficiency and said he personally used and taught the technology.
