AI researchers are taking up smoking because they expect AI to cure cancer, says Palantir CTO
Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar said some AI researchers have taken up smoking as a way to show confidence in artificial intelligence. He made the comments during a Sunday interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
Sankar described the implied bet: researchers believe AI will be able to cure cancer, so they act as if they are willing to risk their health before that happens. He offered no figures on how common the behavior is.
Smoking can also serve other purposes in tech circles, Business Insider reported: some people use breaks to make connections, while others see cigarettes as a way to appear less polished. AI startup founder Avi Schiffmann previously joked that AI systems would have cured lung cancer by the time he developed it.
Sankar brought up the anecdote while criticizing what he sees as excessive belief in AI in Silicon Valley. He has also criticized AI safety advocates, saying some treat artificial general intelligence as a kind of deity. The interview did not describe any next steps or policy proposals.
Key points
- Sankar said some AI researchers smoke to signal confidence that AI will cure cancer.
- Smoking breaks may also offer networking opportunities or help tech workers seem less polished.
- Sankar used the story to criticize what he views as extreme Silicon Valley faith in AI.