Clifford, a member of the UK's AI taskforce, has stressed the need for regulations that prevent AI tools from becoming “very powerful” systems that humans could struggle to control.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's adviser commented on the technology's rapid development in an interview with TalkTV, where he stated that even the short-term risks that come with AI were “pretty scary”.
“You can use AI today to create new recipes for bio weapons or to launch large-scale cyber attacks," he said. "These are bad things."
Since the interview was published, Clifford has stated headlines based on the TalkTV interview – which quoted him stating that AI could kill many humans within two years' time – do not reflect his views.