- On AI Appreciation Day, director Christopher Nolan said his upcoming film Oppenheimer warns of AI dangers.
- Research backs Nolan’s concern, showing that AI endangers mental health conditions.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, upon learning about the devastating impact of the Hiroshima bombing, experienced profound remorse for his involvement in the creation of the atomic bomb. This realization led to a poignant encounter between Oppenheimer and President Truman, during which Oppenheimer expressed his regret and shed tears.
Truman, however, responded dismissively, labeling Oppenheimer a crybaby and severing ties with him. Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan apparently aims to evoke similar introspection among the tech-savvy audiences with his upcoming film, Oppenheimer set to release on June 21.
The much-anticipated Oppenheimer charts the main man behind the fascinating story of the Manhattan Project and its gruesome conclusion in the Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic explosion that signaled the end of WWII. Nolan’s passion project boasts of a seasoned star-cast comprising Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Robert Downing Jr., Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh.
During a recent screening of Oppenheimer at the Whitby Hotel, Christopher Nolan participated in a panel discussion alongside scientists and Kai Bird, one of the authors of the book upon which the film is based, “American Prometheus.” The panel engaged in brief but thought-provoking debates on the efficacy of nuclear deterrence.
Dr. Thom Mason, the current director of Los Alamos, shared that many employees from the lab had cameo appearances in the film due to its proximity to the shooting location. As the conversation neared its end, Chuck Todd, the moderator from Meet the Press, asked Christopher Nolan about the lessons he hoped Silicon Valley would glean from the movie. Nolan responded, emphasizing the significance of accountability in technological advancements.
Nolan expressed concerns about the lack of accountability within Silicon Valley, particularly regarding various technological innovations embraced by companies that fail to acknowledge the harm they have caused. He criticized the trend of companies employing terms like “algorithm” without truly understanding their mathematical implications and subsequently shirking responsibility for the outcomes.
Nolan emphasized the potential horrors that could arise if such negligence were applied to artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in defense infrastructure where AI might eventually be entrusted with nuclear weapons.
He argued that individuals must be held accountable for how they wield and program AI systems, rejecting the notion of AI as a separate entity from the humans behind its creation and implementation. He said: “[Inaccountability] applied to AI? That’s a terrifying possibility. Terrifying.”
In previous promotional interviews, Nolan shared AI’s biggest dangers too. For instance, his interview following the SAG-AFTRA strike raised alarms about the impact of AI in the film industry and labor laws.
Nolan compared the fears of the SAG-AFTRA strikers with the technological fallout of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s Atomic Bomb test, stating: “When we talk about AI, when we talk about [human rights and accountability issues] — they’re all ultimately born from the same thing, which is when you innovate with technology, you have to maintain accountability … When I talk to the leading researchers in the field of AI right now, for example, they literally refer to this — right now — as their Oppenheimer moment. They’re looking to history to say, ‘What are the responsibilities for scientists developing new technologies that may have unintended consequences?’”
Although Nolan refrained from explicitly mentioning any specific company, it was evident that his concerns were directed at tech giants like Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Netflix, heavily reliant on algorithms to acquire and retain audiences.
The unforeseen and often reprehensible consequences arising from this reliance were exemplified by Meta’s contribution to the genocide in Myanmar. Emerging research has also highlighted how AI impacts mental health, dangerously triggering conditions like AI anxiety, etc.
Several tech giants also stand subject to an epidemic of lawsuits that accused them of irresponsibly perpetuating for profit harmful algorithms that trigger depression, eating disorders, body image issues, and suicide in children and adolescents. Nolan viewed his film as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for acknowledgment and rectification when algorithms produce unfavorable outcomes.
While companies may occasionally offer tools to mitigate the negative effects of algorithms, the underlying black box algorithms persist with little discussion on the potential pitfalls and an abundance of emphasis on their benefits. Nolan revealed that leading researchers in AI are progressing more cautiously with technology.
When questioned about Silicon Valley’s current stance, Nolan acknowledged their claims of self-reflection, deeming it a positive development that the issue is at least being acknowledged. He hoped that this thought process would continue, recognizing that Oppenheimer’s story does not provide easy answers but serves as a tale of a timeless humane lesson nonetheless.