Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger alarmed about the next arms race between world powers will surround achieving the best artificial intelligence (AI). Kissinger, author of the book "The Age of AI," pointed out that maintaining human control over artificial intelligence is "highly desirable," but that the speed at which this technology responds to queries will make this a complicated goal. If one relies on AI's response when time is short, its verdicts cannot be verified, as it is impossible to review the entire database that AI draws from. "This will be one of the big debates."
Kissinger made these comments in an interview with Ted Koppel, in which he also commented that he finds himself trying to do the same thing with AI as he did with nuclear weapons: draw attention to the overall impact. The interview took place in his office, which was filled with photographs of former U.S. presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and international leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel.
Former secretary of state and national security advisor Henry Kissinger will turn 100 this month. He talks about today's global tensions; the hazards of AI in a crisis; and his response to critics about his record on war and peace. https://t.co/TScca9iIAW pic.twitter.com/Hb2wwqhnY8
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) May 7, 2023
The former secretary of state also defended the approach to China that he promoted when he was President Nixon's right-hand man. According to Kissinger, the opening of the Asian country to the world was inevitable. Regarding the current conflict in Taiwan, he believes these tensions could lead to war between two high-tech countries.
Kissinger, aged 99, is still active. He even claims to work 15 hours a day. He also believes that there is a "good chance" that President Xi Jinping will pick up the phone if he decides to call him; the same with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The almost centenarian would even be willing to fly to Russia to talk with Putin if asked to do so by Joe Biden. Although, he says, as an "advisor, not an active person."
The Nobel Peace Prize winner indicated that the U.S. policy on nuclear weapons should be understood as successful, regardless of the party in government, because they have not been used in the last 75 years, neither by North America its adversaries. As for the historical review of his actions in the international arena, Kissinger said those who claim he was a criminal for episodes such as the bombing of Cambodia are "ignorant." The United States was and is attacking all enemy guerrilla units, according to the politician. "It was a necessary step." He also commented on the current critical review of the past:
Now, the younger generation feels that if they can raise their emotions, they don't have to think. If they think, they won't ask that question.
Ukraine
Europe remains embroiled in a war that has now been raging for more than a year against initial forecasts that predicted a quick Russian victory. One of the big unknowns at the moment is whether the solution will come at the negotiating table. Kissinger has a clear opinion on the matter: "Now that China has entered the negotiation, it will come to a head."
He even went so far as to predict a possible finishing date. The former U.S. official said that by the end of the year the parties will be in negotiation processes or even in "actual negotiations."
A question of age
The former advisor also gave his opinion on the 2024 presidential elections. With the two leading candidates exceeding seventy years of age, (Biden at 80, Trump at 76) age became one of the issues in contention. Early in the campaign, candidate Nikki Haley even argued that there should be mental competency tests, leading to the infamous television episode in which Don Lemon called her "out of her prime."
Kissinger argued that the presidency requires a "certain capacity, physically." There are certain advantages to maturity, he explained, but there are also dangers in the limited capacity for work and the fatigue that comes with it.
