In his coauthored book 'Genesis,' Schmidt draws parallels between AI and historical events, such as the Spanish conquistadors' invasion of Mexico in 1519, to question AI's potential to dominate humanity.

Reflecting on the recent presidential inauguration, Schmidt noted the concentration of power and emphasized the importance of political leadership over business influence in governance.

At the ai-Pulse conference in Paris, Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, addressed the implications of artificial intelligence for democracy and human interaction.

Schmidt criticized tech leaders for prioritizing revenue over the moral and social implications of their innovations, stressing the need for a societal consensus on ethical standards.

The discussion included the concept of a 'philosopher king,' questioning whether AI could effectively govern society and the complexities of establishing guiding principles.

Schmidt warned that AI could be exploited by demagogues, serving as powerful tools for targeted manipulation and persuasion.

Concerns were raised about the public's limited understanding of rapidly advancing technology, with potential outcomes where people either idolize AI or resist it.

He advocated for democracy over AI governance, warning of the risks associated with allowing machines to dictate human behavior.

He highlighted the increasing accessibility of AI technologies, raising alarms about their potential misuse by malicious actors.

This growing accessibility is exemplified by China's release of the cost-effective language model DeepSeek, which poses risks of proliferation to both beneficial and harmful users.

Overall, Schmidt's insights highlight the urgent need for ethical considerations in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

Schmidt coauthored 'Genesis' with Craig Mundie and the late Henry Kissinger, who passed away in 2023, exploring the intersection of technology and reality.