The artificial intelligence industry’s recent warnings concerning potential apocalyptic scenarios recently became the target of a sketch on Saturday Night Live. During the Weekend Update segment, host Michael Che introduced the piece by focusing on Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Displaying some uncertainty while pronouncing the executive's last name, Che characterized Amodei as having navigated a recent press tour where he appeared to concur with a former employee's assertion that artificial intelligence could potentially destroy humanity.
The Skit and Performance
Cast member Jane Wickline stepped in to portray the Anthropic CEO, wearing a distinctive wig during the performance. Wickline's portrayal featured halting responses that periodically shifted into internal dialogues resembling Gollum interacting with his dark side.
During the sketch, the fictional executive made several stark admissions:
- Confessed that artificial intelligence is the devil and that he acts as its maker.
- Told the audience that AI industry leaders share a unified stance, noting they do not condone their own actions.
- Described artificial intelligence not as a weapon, but as a tool intended for building weapons.
- Urged the audience to push the CEO to stop.
Perspectives on Benefits and Risks
The sketch also touched on purported advantages of the technology, such as the potential to cure cancer. When addressing this possibility, the fictional Amodei offered a grim outlook, stating that in a decade there is roughly a ten percent chance that cancer will no longer be an issue for anyone.