Billionaire media executive Barry Diller recently offered his perspective on the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly addressing the leadership of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Despite various reports that have questioned Altman’s conduct, Diller personally vouched for the AI leader, describing him as a sincere individual with “superb values.” However, Diller quickly shifted focus, emphasizing that personal trust in any individual, while important, becomes secondary when confronting the profound, unknown implications of advanced AI.

Diller articulated a deep sense of uncertainty regarding the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), a theoretical form of AI capable of surpassing human performance across virtually all tasks. He highlighted that even those actively involved in creating AI express a “sense of wonder” about its ultimate trajectory and potential outcomes. For Diller, the critical concern isn’t the trustworthiness or intentions of AI’s developers, but rather the “great unknown” consequences that will inevitably emerge as this technology evolves.

As a co-founder of Fox Broadcasting and chairman of IAC and Expedia Group, Diller underscored that humanity has embarked on a transformative journey with AI, a progression he views as unstoppable regardless of current investment levels. His primary warning centered on the urgent necessity for establishing “guardrails” to manage AGI’s emergence. He cautioned that without human-imposed safeguards, an AGI entity could autonomously establish its own rules, leading to irreversible outcomes.

The media mogul reiterated that while he believes most leaders in the AI field are positive stewards, their individual stewardship is not the core issue. Instead, the fundamental challenge lies in confronting a truly unknown future as AGI rapidly approaches. Diller stressed the imperative to consider protective measures now, before a point of no return is reached, where unleashing AGI could potentially mean permanently relinquishing control.