Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a new op-ed published on Tuesday that the rise of artificial intelligence should be used to empower all people rather than being centralized and controlled by a few institutions.

Zuckerberg wrote in The Wall Street Journal that people will be able to use superintelligence beyond human capacities in the next few years to create and discover new things, as well as drive economic growth and create opportunities. He said that this stands in contrast to some of the rhetoric from AI developers and argued that broadly diffusing access to AI and its power would produce a better outcome. In doing so, he placed Meta’s view in a broader industry debate over whether advanced AI should be concentrated in a small number of labs or made more widely available.

"It is surprising that the discourse from many of those who are developing artificial intelligence is so filled with doom. I don't understand why anyone who believes that AI will eliminate most jobs and much of humanity's relevance would rush to build that future," he wrote.

"The notion that AI is so dangerous that the only safe path is an extreme concentration of power seems dangerous. Historically, hoping that an absolute power will benevolently provide for humanity if sufficiently enlightened hasn't led to safe or positive outcomes," Zuckerberg explained.

ZUCKERBERG SAYS AI SHOULD EMPOWER PEOPLE, NOT REPLACE THEM, IN NEW META VISION

Zuckerberg said that history includes many transformative technological advances that initially stoked fears they would leave people behind, but that people ultimately gained more prosperity, health and freedom as those technologies advanced.

"Putting power in people's hands to pursue their own aspirations is how humanity has made the most progress. Novel ideas and major steps forward rarely originate from established institutions alone," he wrote.

Zuckerberg referred to major technological developments for humanity such as flight, electricity and personal computing, saying they were advanced by individuals without deep ties to institutions. He said that as "everyone gains more powerful tools, each person will become more capable of shaping the future, not less."

AI INNOVATION IS OUTPACING GOVERNANCE, LEAVING COMPANIES EXPOSED, EQUALAI WARNS

The Meta CEO acknowledged that there is a balance between using AI for automation and using it as a tool that empowers innovation and allows people to expand their skills and launch businesses. He added that if the balance shifts too far toward automation, it could have a negative impact on jobs and the economy. His comments also reflect a practical question facing companies as AI adoption accelerates: whether the technology ends up concentrating productivity inside larger organizations or lowering the barrier for smaller ones to compete.

"But if superintelligence is widely distributed, then I believe we will see more jobs in the future, not fewer. It will be significantly easier to start businesses without raising large amounts of capital."

"I expect the economy will become more entrepreneurial with a greater number of people working at small businesses rather than larger companies," he wrote.

PALANTIR CEO WARNS US AGAINST EUROPE'S AI REGULATION PATH, URGES TRUMP ADMIN TO NOT BAN OPEN MODELS

Zuckerberg added that the development of superintelligence "will be the most profound technological advance we will see in our lifetimes."

"Meta is committed to building with the principles of individual empowerment, invention and balance of power. The arc of human history has bent toward putting more power in people's hands."

"If these values lead the way, then I am optimistic that we can build a positive future for everyone," he wrote.