Juso and Economiesuisse clash over artificial intelligence

review

In a special SRF “Arena”, guests from business, science and politics discussed artificial intelligence – or what they thought it was. Eventually, two high school students outperformed her.

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This is a special “stage” on the Friday before voting weekend. And not just because the AI-generated Sandro Brotz greeted the audience a bit woodenly during the show. This time, Studio 8 is no longer a political template. On the occasion of the SRF Artificial Intelligence (AI) Theme Week, the “Arena” invites people to discuss the opportunities and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The topic is “Artificial Intelligence – How will it change our lives?” Guests from business, politics and science discussed with host Sandro Brotz:

As studio experts are:

This is Sandro Broz. Artificial intelligence generated.Image: screenshot srf

Class war replaces artificial intelligence

No one on the Arena team expected the topic of artificial intelligence to be such a big deal before it aired. But lo and behold: the Swiss Free Democrats complained on Thursday via X that Juso chairman Mirjam Hoststmann had been invited as the party's sole representative.

The Liberal Democrats' fears proved to be only partially unfounded. Because even as Swiss Economics Association president Monika Rühl fulfills her role as the voice of business in the “arena,” Horstmann brings out the heavy guns of anti-capitalism.

Earlier this year, the 13th House of Representatives passed an AI resolution that, among other things, called for the expropriation of large digital companies and democratic control of AI technology.

When Broz talked about the Thirteenth Proposal, he asked the Thirteenth President in disbelief: “Expropriation, are you serious?” Horstmann was unmoved: “Yes, seriously.” We There is a need to take back control of technology and have a say in the products we want. Rule slowly grew tired of this: Thirteen seemed to be on a universal mission of requisition. Ruhl also tested again, this time with genuine annoyance: “Do you really want this?”

Horstmann says yes, it's about democracy. When the duel turned personal, with the Swiss bank president asking the 25-year-old Horstmann if he had ever worked for a private company and knew how things worked there, Broz initially tried to intervene, but failed. Before that, Ruhl said again:

Monika Rühl, president of the Swiss Economic Association, is not convinced by Juso's expropriation vision. Image: screenshot srf

So what's the matter?

After the exchange, Brotz rushed to Marcel Salate, Brotz's designated referee, who was standing slightly to the side. “That way things calm down,” he explained. Salathé, known to many as the COVID-19 epidemiologist, was also present that night as co-director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence at EPFL.

Broz's mission was successful, and Salatai restored order for him. Researchers say it's important not to mix things up – social media, artificial intelligence, these are different topics.

So what exactly artificial intelligence meant didn't seem all that clear, even that night at “The Arena.” Artificial intelligence, social media, apps or technology companies are used almost synonymously on many occasions.

A contestant in the show explained it to everyone again: Artificial intelligence refers to systems that can perform tasks that originally require human skills. Artificial intelligence must be trained on data, lots of data. It is already used: transportation, medicine, war, or mobile phones with ChatGPT.

Salathé advocates maintaining “critical optimism” when dealing with artificial intelligence. Brotz jokingly chimed in, which pretty much fits the “Arena” host's job description. Salathé thinks caution is in order; he believes the spread of artificial intelligence will be as dramatic an upheaval as the industrial revolution.

Ethicist Peter G. Kirchschläger was the first to warn of copyright infringement, environmental damage and loss of truth. Moral hazard is everywhere. Children and teenagers in particular need to be protected – and at some point it’s no longer so clear whether you’re protected from artificial intelligence, social media or questionable apps.

Pascal Kaufmann is one person who really understands artificial intelligence. The neuroscientist and internationally recognized tech entrepreneur wants to make Switzerland a leading force in the development of artificial intelligence. It would be safest if we developed the technology in-house, he said, taking on Horstmann's criticism of big tech companies.

The distribution of positions is clear: Hostetmann and Kirchschläger are responsible for risks, and Rühl and Kaufmann are responsible for opportunities. Salaté represents, in Brotz's words, “the voice of balance.” Their statements on possible regulation of artificial intelligence are consistent.

Since this summer, the EU has known about the Artificial Intelligence Act, which divides artificial intelligence systems into different risk levels and sets corresponding requirements. Certain AI applications will be banned, such as those that can assess social behavior. The regulation does not apply to Switzerland; the federal government hopes to present its own AI guardrail proposal by the end of the year.

Two high school students delighted everyone

In what Broz calls a “reality check,” two high school students from the Zurich Oberland were invited to the studio. After listening for an hour, Yuri and Ronnie were finally allowed to tell them whether the artificial intelligence would make their lives easier or more difficult. The pair detailed how they deal with artificial intelligence in their daily school lives. Yuri said that artificial intelligence opens up a variety of possibilities, which they also use.

However, the two deliberately avoided using artificial intelligence in their Matura thesis, even though it was allowed. When asked whether they supported or opposed technical regulations, they gave such thoughtful and eloquent answers that Broz immediately praised them:

AI as a projection surface

Yes, do we have to be afraid of this artificial intelligence, or is everything completely harmless? Following a dramatic clip from Yuval Noah Harari, who sees artificial intelligence as the end of human-dominated history, key questions are addressed.

AI pioneer Kaufman waved his hand:

Finally, Salatai asked: Why did “Arena” choose Harari's fierce statement? If he makes a balanced statement about artificial intelligence, will it be proven? Probably not, Brotz answered honestly.

So by the end of “Arena,” what was obvious early on becomes obvious. We still have a lot to learn when it comes to artificial intelligence. Salatai smiled when he pointed out the lack of skills in dealing with artificial intelligence, which was also evident in the discussion.

In this “arena,” artificial intelligence remains largely a myth and a projection of topics already preoccupied by discussion participants, whether it’s children’s rights, free markets, or class struggle.