我们应该害怕人工智能吗？

Should we fear AI?

常速 | 五级（偏难）| 345词 | 2min9s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What is one reason Elon Musk and other experts called for a pause in advanced AI development?  

A. To address potential risks posed by human-competitive intelligence.  

B. To promote AI’s use in solving global problems.  

C. To reduce the economic impact of AI on job markets.  

D. To advance communication technologies like Skype.  

Q2. What does The Future of Life Institute suggest about advanced AI systems?  

A. They should be developed faster to solve global problems.  

B. They can help reduce poverty in poorer countries.  

C. They pose profound risks to society and humanity.  

D. They are unlikely to replace human intelligence.  

Q3. According to Goldman Sachs, what is one possible impact of AI on the job market?  

A. AI will eliminate the need for human workers entirely.  

B. AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs.  

C. AI may create a productivity boom and new jobs.  

D. AI will only affect jobs in the technology sector.  

Q4. What is the main purpose of the passage?  

A. To explain how AI works in modern technology.  

B. To discuss the potential benefits and risks of AI development.  

C. To highlight the economic advantages of AI.  

D. To promote AI’s use in solving global problems.  

Q5. What can be inferred about Bill Gates’ view on AI?  

A. He doubts AI’s ability to address global challenges.  

B. He suggests governments should collaborate with industry to manage AI risks.  

C. He believes AI will primarily benefit developed countries.  

D. He thinks AI development should be paused indefinitely.  

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Should we fear AI?

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence - or AI - has become an important part of our lives. It is no longer just a thing of science fiction: it’s an incredible technological breakthrough that has changed the way we live. (Q4-1) But there are fears that AI has become too intelligent and could be a threat to humanity.

This claim might sound extreme, but (Q1) a letter signed by more than 1,000 technology experts, including Tesla boss Elon Musk, called on the world to press pause on the development of more advanced AI because of the risks. Estonian billionaire Jaan Tallinn, for example, who helped develop communication app Skype, thinks we should be cautious. And The Future of Life Institute, a not-for-profit organisation, says that there should be a temporary pause in advanced AI development, saying that (Q2) “AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity.”

Tesla n. 特斯拉（公司名，指特斯拉汽车公司）  

billionaire n. 亿万富翁  

This pessimistic outlook is supported by (Q3) a report by investment bank Goldman Sachs that says AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. But it may also mean new jobs and a productivity boom. We may argue that AI such as chatbots can help us. State-of-the-art ChatGPT, for example, has been helping some students write assignments. AI is allowing computers to think or act in a more human way. And machine learning means computers can learn what to do without being given explicit instructions. The technology is impressive, but as it starts to think for itself, will it outsmart us?

Some people are more optimistic. (Q4-2) AI advocates say the tech is already delivering real social and economic benefits for people. Meanwhile, the founder of Microsoft, (Q5) Bill Gates, has called on governments to work with industry to “limit the risks” of AI. But he says the technology could save lives, particularly in poorer countries. He says, “Just as the world needs its brightest people focused on its biggest problems, we will need to focus the world’s best AIs on its biggest problems.” If this happens, maybe humanity will have a future.

Part III. KEY

Q1. A.【解析】细节题。根据“a letter signed by more than 1,000 technology experts, including Tesla boss Elon Musk, called on the world to press pause on the development of more advanced AI because of the risks.”，可知包括特斯拉老板埃隆·马斯克在内的1000多位技术专家签署了一封信，呼吁全球暂停开发更先进的人工智能，是因为其存在风险。正确答案为A。  

Q2. C.【解析】细节题。根据“AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity.”，可知该机构认为具有与人类竞争性智能的人工智能系统可能会给社会和人类带来极大隐患。正确答案为C。  

Q3. B.【解析】细节题。根据“a report by investment bank Goldman Sachs that says AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.，可知高盛报告指出，人工智能可能会替代3亿个全职工作岗位。正确答案为B。  

Q4. B.【解析】主旨题。根据“there are fears that AI has become too intelligent and could be a threat to humanity.”以及“AI advocates say the tech is already delivering real social and economic benefits for people”，可知文章先讲述人们担忧 AI 带来的各类风险，可能对人类构成威胁，又介绍AI 带来的社会经济益处，主要讨论了人工智能发展的利弊。正确答案为B。  

Q5. B.【解析】推理题。根据“Bill Gates has called on governments to work with industry to ‘limit the risks’ of AI.”，可知比尔·盖茨呼吁政府与行业合作以“限制人工智能的风险”。由此可以推断，比尔·盖茨认为应该合作采取措施管控人工智能的风险，但并非完全暂停发展，因此正确答案为B。  

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