Zuckerberg engages with Japan PM on AI risks during Asian tour
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Japan, focusing on the risks associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI), as per a government spokesperson’s statement on Wednesday.
Zuckerberg embarked on a brief tour across Asia, encompassing stops in Japan, India, and South Korea, where he arrived on Tuesday night. Amid his professional engagements, the 39-year-old seized the opportunity to partake in leisure activities with his family, including skiing and learning the craft of sword-making from a master artisan.
During their meeting on Tuesday, Zuckerberg and Kishida delved into various topics, with a particular emphasis on the advancement of AI technology and the associated risks posed by generative AI, according to top Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi’s briefing to reporters on Wednesday. Japanese media outlets quoted Zuckerberg expressing satisfaction with the dialogue, stating, “We had a good, productive conversation about AI and the future of technology.”
Generative AI, pioneered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is a cutting-edge technology capable of generating text, images, and audio from simple prompts within seconds. While its rapid evolution holds promise for numerous sectors, including gaming and politics, it also carries potential negative ramifications.
Meta, alongside 19 other major tech companies, recently pledged to combat the dissemination of AI-generated content intended to mislead voters ahead of crucial global elections this year. This commitment includes the adoption of a common watermarking standard to identify AI-generated images, a move aimed at enhancing transparency in digital content.
Upon his arrival in Seoul, Zuckerberg’s itinerary featured meetings with prominent figures in the South Korean tech industry. He reportedly engaged with LG Electronics’ CEO to explore extended reality (XR) projects, and met with Lee Jae-yong, the head of Samsung Electronics, to discuss potential collaborations in AI memory chips and XR ventures.
The Meta CEO also interacted with representatives from several AI and XR startups at Meta’s Seoul office. His visit to South Korea is expected to be followed by a trip to India, where he is slated to attend pre-wedding celebrations hosted by Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries. This engagement underscores Meta’s and other tech giants’ substantial investments in India’s burgeoning e-commerce sector, aiming to rival industry giants such as Amazon and Walmart.
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