Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has joined the chorus of critics who are concerned about the future of artificial intelligence technologies in Facebook’s metaverse.
Schmidt, who was Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2011 and executive chairman until May 2020, told the New York Times that while he believes technology will eventually “be ubiquitous,” he warns that it is “not always the best thing for human society.”
“Everyone who talks about metaverses is talking about worlds that are more satisfying than this one,” Schmidt told the New York Times. “You’re richer, more handsome, more beautiful, more powerful, and faster.” “As a result, in a few years, people will prefer to spend more time in the metaverse with their goggles on.
Who gets to make the rules, anyway? The world will increasingly become digital rather than physical. And that isn’t always the optimum outcome for human society.”
Schmidt described artificial intelligence (AI), which Meta employs to power the majority of its platforms’ algorithms, as a “huge, false god” capable of fostering unhealthy and parasocial interactions.
“It will be everywhere,” he told Maureen Dowd of the New York Times. “What does an A.I.-enabled best friend, particularly to a child, look like? What does AI-assisted warfare entail? Does artificial intelligence see things that we don’t? Is it possible that artificial intelligence will see things that humans cannot?”
The former Google executive isn’t the only one who is concerned about artificial intelligence.
READ ALSO: Facebook Meta Reality Labs Acquires Supernatural VR Workout App Maker
In recent months, corporate executives have increasingly attacked the technology, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who stated that his faith in the transparency and safety of AI within his own company is “not high.”
Meanwhile, other experts believe that augmented reality is even more vulnerable to manipulation than social networking.
Schmidt’s remarks follow Facebook’s announcement on Thursday that it was changing its corporate name to Meta and launching the metaverse, a virtual world where individuals may connect digitally using avatars.
In recent weeks, the corporation has been the target of widespread criticism after stolen documents revealed the company’s questionable business methods and technology.
Facebook’s capacity to refute misinformation, Instagram’s link to eating disorders in young girls and teenagers, and the treatment of politicians and celebrities on its platforms are among the conclusions in the documents.
In an attempt to remove itself from the scandal, Facebook has emphasized its metaverse objective more recently.
Since then, the corporation has pushed back against the reports, calling them inaccurate.
People who believe Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed the name to Meta because of the criticism over the stolen documents are “crazy,” according to The Verge.
During the company’s Oculus Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated, “From now on, we’ll be metaverse first, not Facebook first.” “You won’t need to utilize Facebook to use our other services in the future.”
Younger people’s use of Facebook and Instagram is diminishing, as apps like TikTok and Snapchat are gradually replacing them.
READ ALSO: Facebook changes company name to Meta
According to Piper Sandler’s “Taking Stock With Kids,” 81 percent of teens surveyed stated they use Instagram, the most of any medium. Snapchat is used by 77 percent of people, and TikTok is used by 73 percent.
Only 27% of those polled claimed they use Facebook, making it the least popular of the social media networks.