NASA is wary of artificial intelligence

NASA representatives emphasize that safety remains a priority, especially in the face of the growing power of artificial intelligence.

Now artificial intelligence (AI) is developing rapidly, as can be seen from the emergence of revolutionary instruments like ChatGTP. But NASA is concerned and anxiously looking at this invention. The space agency believes that this industry can not only contribute to revolutionary discoveries, but also contains potential risks. 

“There’s a lot of risk with AI, because if it’s employed in ways that are not for the betterment of humankind, then it could be disastrous. AI can make our work more efficient. But that’s only if we approach these new tools in the right way, with the same pillars that have defined us since the beginning: safety, transparency and reliability,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

Nelson stressed that NASA is not new in the field of AI. The agency has been using this technology for many years. However, the rapid development of AI has forced NASA to step up its efforts to intelligently implement this technology. Last week, NASA announced the appointment of David Salvagnini as the first head of the AI department. He and his colleagues aim to raise awareness among NASA personnel about the potential threats of artificial intelligence.

Salvagnini also focused on AI security issues. He stressed the importance of responsible use of technology, which should be controlled by people. He prefers the term “assistive intelligence” because it emphasizes human responsibility for decisions that are made with the help of AI. He compared this to forecasters’ models, which predicted possible hurricane paths using multiple scenarios reflecting data limitations and the need for human judgment.

“So, then, how do we be safe about this? We understand our responsibility as the ultimate accountable person as it relates … to our work products. And then if we happen to use AI as part of the generation of a work product, that’s fine, but just understand its capabilities and limitations,” Salvagnini said.

However, safety was not the only topic of the meeting; the prospects for using AI were also discussed. According to NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, AI’s ability to quickly analyze large amounts of data can lead to significant discoveries. AI can perform routine data analysis tasks, freeing up time for NASA employees to focus on more complex issues. Melroy was generally optimistic about artificial intelligence and concluded her speech by supporting the technology.

“AI is a powerful, ingenious and exciting instrument. But if we don’t use it responsibly, we may face risks that threaten our reputation and mission,” she said.

Earlier, we reported on how artificial intelligence helped to understand dark energy more accurately.

According to space.com