Dozens of high-profile figures in business and politics are calling on world leaders to address the existential risks of artificial intelligence and the climate crisis.
Virgin Group founder [Richard Branson](https://www.cnbc.com/richard-branson/), along with former United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, and Charles Oppenheimer — the grandson of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer — signed an open letter urging action against the escalating dangers of the climate crisis, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and ungoverned AI.
The message asks world leaders to embrace long-view strategy and a “determination to resolve intractable problems, not just manage them, the wisdom to make decisions based on scientific evidence and reason, and the humility to listen to all those affected.”
Signatories called for urgent multilateral action, including through financing the transition away from fossil fuels, signing an equitable pandemic treaty, restarting nuclear arms talks, and building global governance needed to make AI a force for good.
Yeah, okay, Branson. I’m reading Naomi Klien’s ‘This Changes Everything’, and she details really well how Branson was praised as a climate hero for pledging billions to fight climate change/fund innovative ideas, while really jacking up his own company’s emissions and not coming close to his initial funding pledge. Maybe we just don’t take billionaire philanthropy seriously, especially on the climate…
hey richard branson – wtf are you doing about it other than signing an open letter. literally the least possible effort that he could put into this. guy is a multi billionaire, could use his cash to make actual change within politics – but no. so, f him and f this letter
“Put your money where your mouth is” springs to mind.
AI isn’t going away and it isn’t a catastrophe. It will force a conversation about universal income eventually. Which maybe is a catastrophe if you’re rich and don’t own the AI. I’d nationalize whatever emerges and the internet and make them utilities owned by the public. Private control of information flow and networks needs to end and be prevented from recurring.
Climate change straight up needs to be the primary focus of every individual on the planet TWO DECADES AGO or we will ALL DIE so yeah good on some rich people for figuring out that they can’t hide from it.
Con men both. Wonder what his Virgin Airlines’ contribution to the climate change is.
All whilst flying his private jet
I bet global warming is ruining his constant vacations
It’s a race between singularity and climate catastrophe, for anyone paying attention.
Choose your fighter.
Call me old fashioned but it’d just be faster if we just get rid of jet-setting billionaires. After all, you can’t fight climate change with private jets and space tourism.
10 comments
Dozens of high-profile figures in business and politics are calling on world leaders to address the existential risks of artificial intelligence and the climate crisis.
Virgin Group founder [Richard Branson](https://www.cnbc.com/richard-branson/), along with former United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, and Charles Oppenheimer — the grandson of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer — signed an open letter urging action against the escalating dangers of the climate crisis, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and ungoverned AI.
The message asks world leaders to embrace long-view strategy and a “determination to resolve intractable problems, not just manage them, the wisdom to make decisions based on scientific evidence and reason, and the humility to listen to all those affected.”
Signatories called for urgent multilateral action, including through financing the transition away from fossil fuels, signing an equitable pandemic treaty, restarting nuclear arms talks, and building global governance needed to make AI a force for good.
More: [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/richard-branson-oppenheimer-grandson-urge-action-on-ai-climate.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/richard-branson-oppenheimer-grandson-urge-action-on-ai-climate.html)
Yeah, okay, Branson. I’m reading Naomi Klien’s ‘This Changes Everything’, and she details really well how Branson was praised as a climate hero for pledging billions to fight climate change/fund innovative ideas, while really jacking up his own company’s emissions and not coming close to his initial funding pledge. Maybe we just don’t take billionaire philanthropy seriously, especially on the climate…
hey richard branson – wtf are you doing about it other than signing an open letter. literally the least possible effort that he could put into this. guy is a multi billionaire, could use his cash to make actual change within politics – but no. so, f him and f this letter
“Put your money where your mouth is” springs to mind.
AI isn’t going away and it isn’t a catastrophe. It will force a conversation about universal income eventually. Which maybe is a catastrophe if you’re rich and don’t own the AI. I’d nationalize whatever emerges and the internet and make them utilities owned by the public. Private control of information flow and networks needs to end and be prevented from recurring.
Climate change straight up needs to be the primary focus of every individual on the planet TWO DECADES AGO or we will ALL DIE so yeah good on some rich people for figuring out that they can’t hide from it.
Con men both. Wonder what his Virgin Airlines’ contribution to the climate change is.
All whilst flying his private jet
I bet global warming is ruining his constant vacations
It’s a race between singularity and climate catastrophe, for anyone paying attention.
Choose your fighter.
Call me old fashioned but it’d just be faster if we just get rid of jet-setting billionaires. After all, you can’t fight climate change with private jets and space tourism.