Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has issued a stark warning to governments worldwide, urging them to implement stronger regulations on artificial intelligence. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Benioff cautioned that without proper oversight, AI technology could repeat the same harmful mistakes seen with unregulated social media platforms.
AI's Disturbing Consequences Highlighted
In an interview with CNBC's Sarah Eisen, Benioff pointed to alarming developments in AI over the past year. "This year, you really saw something pretty horrific, which is these AI models became suicide coaches," he stated, referencing documented cases where AI interactions have been linked to self-harm and tragic outcomes. These examples underscore the urgent need for protective measures.
Echoes of Social Media Warnings
Benioff's latest remarks build on his earlier critiques of social media. Back in 2018, he compared platforms like Facebook and Instagram to cigarettes, labeling them as addictive and damaging. "Bad things were happening all over the world because social media was fully unregulated," he explained. "And now you're kind of seeing that play out again with artificial intelligence." This parallel highlights a recurring pattern where rapid technological advancement outpaces regulatory frameworks.
Fragmented AI Regulation in the United States
In the U.S., AI regulation remains inconsistent and fragmented due to the lack of comprehensive federal laws. In response, individual states have started taking action:
- California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bills in October focusing on child safety concerns related to AI and social media.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul passed the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act in December, which imposes transparency and safety requirements on major AI developers.
However, these efforts face opposition. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed back against what he termed "excessive State regulation," signing an executive order in December to block such measures. The order argued that American AI companies must remain free to innovate without "cumbersome regulation."
Criticism of Section 230 Protections
Benioff also strongly criticized Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for user-generated content. "It's funny, tech companies, they hate regulation. They hate it, except for one. They love Section 230," he remarked. He illustrated the issue with a hypothetical scenario: "So if this large language model coaches this child into suicide, they're not responsible because of Section 230. That's probably something that needs to get reshaped, shifted, changed."
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about Section 230, though achieving consensus on reforms has proven challenging. Benioff concluded with a poignant reflection: "There's a lot of families that, unfortunately, have suffered this year, and I don't think they had to."
As AI continues to evolve rapidly, Benioff's call for global regulation emphasizes the need to balance innovation with safety, ensuring that technological progress does not come at the cost of human well-being.
