(Licensed) Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has a cautionary warning for America’s decision-makers: regulate and control artificial intelligence now, before it’s too late. Featured Video Speaking at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island this week, Musk spoke to a group of Democratic and Republican governors, urging them to take proactive action to prepare for the rise of AI. Specifically, he argued that the possible negative effects of AI on human society can’t necessarily be legislated away after they’ve already begun. Instead it requires preemptive regulations and restrictions for the safety of humankind. “AI is a rare case where I think we need to be proactive in regulation, instead of reactive. Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it’s too late,” Must said, via CNet. “AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization, in a way that car accidents, airplane crashes, faulty drugs, or bad food were not.” A big part of Musk’s concern is that AI systems could spark needless wars by way of “fake news” and information manipulation, a vision not that far from what fans of The Terminator film franchise have had bouncing through their heads for the last few decades. Advertisement Elon Musk told a whole bunch of U.S. governors yesterday to regulate AI. That’s a big deal. https://t.co/89bJZVN8nb