Bengio stressed the importance of public policymakers taking a proactive role in regulating AI technology. He emphasized the need for governments to monitor and audit AI systems, drawing parallels to other industries like aviation, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, where regulations and certifications are in place to ensure safety and ethical standards. Additionally, Bengio called for ethical training and certification for individuals working closely with AI systems, as computer scientists typically lack such training.
Being regarded as one of the founding “Godfathers” of AI comes with its challenges, as Bengio described the responsibility as both daunting and motivating. Despite feeling lost at times, he emphasized the importance of perseverance and engagement in discussions to encourage critical thinking among fellow researchers and practitioners.
