Ever since artificial intelligence (AI) emerged, people have expressed significant concerns about its potential pitfalls.

One of the most common worries is that AI will worsen people's access to jobs as a result of automation. Others even suggested that sans the necessary regulations, artificial intelligence could infringe upon individual privacy rights and cause other problems.

In 2024, polling reveals that much of the public favors the government stepping in and implementing certain mandates to keep AI contained. After a recent report from the US State Department, support for regulating this technology is likely to increase even more.

Here's what the State Department is saying about AI

Ahead of publicizing the aforementioned report, the US State Department reviewed AI's constant growth and its ability to shield American interests. Part of this work involved speaking with the leaders of AI companies, national security experts, specialists on weapons of mass destruction, and even cybersecurity investigators.

After all of it, the State Department determined that artificial intelligence - at its very worst - could engender threats great enough to wipe out the human race. The agency feels that AI's capacity to bring about massive societal developments is paralleled by its ability to do equal amounts of harm.

Per the report, this technology could potentially take on a life of its own after it evolves beyond a certain point. From here, AI would literally be unstoppable. The control of AI systems, along with the possible weaponization of this intelligence, are both areas the State Department deems as most risky.

To avoid these worst-case scenarios, implementing emergency securities and restricting the level of computer power utilized to instruct AI systems each come highly recommended. Specifically, the report asserts the American government needs to intervene to this end, rather than simply leaving matters up to science and technology companies.

Lots of work ahead

Today, as AI undergoes development and training, it also lacks the necessary safeguards to counteract security risks and privacy threats. Without putting these measures in place, any positive benefits that come from artificial intelligence won't matter in the face of immense peril and harm to the public.