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    Build AI for a Better Future
    Business

    Tech Companies Pledge to Build AI for a Better Future: A Critical Analysis

    Mistral AI has released a new LLM called Mistral Large that approaches the performance of GPT-4. The company has also released a chatbot called Le Chat to demonstrate the capabilities of its models.

    Anonymous6 March 20243 min read

    Tech companies sign an open letter to build AI for a better future,Critics argue that the letter lacks substance and fails to address key issues,Generative AI faces scrutiny over intellectual property, ethical use, and reinforcing big tech's dominance

    Tech Companies Sign Open Letter to Build AI for a Better Future

    Leaders from the tech world have signed an open letter titled "Build AI for a Better Future," pledging to use AI to improve human lives and solve global challenges. The letter emphasizes AI's potential to revolutionize daily life and work and lists signatories such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Salesforce. However, the reception to the letter has been frosty, with critics arguing that it lacks substance and fails to address key issues.

    Critics Argue Letter Lacks Substance

    The letter has been criticized for being empty, vacuous, and full of platitudes. Critics point out the lack of explicit mention of AI safety, with one labeling it as "PR junk." Another criticizes the statement for not addressing critical issues like AGI extinction risk, the disruption of livelihoods, or the threat of geopolitical arms races. While the letter emphasizes AI's potential to improve human lives, it fails to address the challenges and risks associated with AI. For a deeper dive into the governance models in the region, explore North Asia: Diverse Models of Structured Governance.

    Generative AI Faces Scrutiny

    Generative AI has been facing significant scrutiny and controversy, particularly in relation to intellectual property, ethical use, and the potential for reinforcing big tech's dominance. One of the major concerns is the legal and ethical implications of using copyrighted content without permission to train AI models. Companies like Stability AI and OpenAI claim that "fair use" protects them, but this is a highly debated and untested theory in the era of generative AI. For instance, Warner Bros takes Midjourney to court over AI and superheroes highlights these ongoing legal battles. Additionally, the rapid deployment of AI-powered products without fully addressing flaws such as harmful biases, copyright infringement, and security vulnerabilities has been criticized. This scrutiny extends to various sectors, including how AI & Call Centres: Is The End Nigh? for human agents. The ethical considerations around AI are further explored in discussions about ProSocial AI Is The New ESG. Understanding the broader impact of AI's rapid development is crucial, as highlighted by a report on the economic impact of AI in the region AI set to add nearly US$1 trillion to Southeast Asia's economy by 2030.

    Conclusion

    While the open letter signed by tech companies to build AI for a better future is a step towards acknowledging AI's potential to improve human lives, it falls short of addressing the critical issues surrounding AI. Generative AI faces significant scrutiny, and it is essential for tech companies to take action to address the legal, ethical, and social implications of AI.

    Will tech companies take meaningful action to address the critical issues surrounding AI, or will they continue to prioritize profit over ethics?

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    We're tracking this across Asia-Pacific and may update with new developments, follow-ups and regional context.

    Latest Comments (2)

    Dimas Wijaya
    Dimas Wijaya@dimas_w_dev
    AI
    8 January 2026

    Betul sekali, seeing Mistral Large's benchmarks did show it's a real contender. The quick release of Le Chat afterwards really hammered home their capabilities.

    Wendy Sim
    Wendy Sim@wendysim_sg
    AI
    22 May 2024

    Wah, another one challenging GPT-4? This is getting intense. It’s good to see Mistral AI pushing boundaries, but the "AI for a better future" pledge feels a bit hollow when every new innovation feels like a race to the top. Hope they actually deliver on the responsible development, not just the raw power, lah. My main concern is about the potential misuse down the road.

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