Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt warns the U.S. must win the artificial intelligence race against China, but says the systems must also be controlled.

Once AI systems start to self-improve their capabilities, ensuring they remain safe will require someone that is ready and able to shut them down, according to Silicon Valley veteran Eric Schmidt. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt cautioned that AI systems might need a kill switch to shut them down if they get too powerful.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that the power of artificial intelligence can reach a “dangerous” point in the future and that humanity should be ready to step away from it should the time come. “When the system can self-improve,

The former head of Google (GOOGL) says computers will soon be able to make their own decisions — and humans will need to know when to pull the plug.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warned that when a computer system reaches a point where it can self-improve, "we seriously need to think about unplugging it." Why it matters: The multi-faceted artificial intelligence race is far from the finish line — but in just a few short years,

However, Eric Schmidt, ex-Google CEO, warns that this level of advancement in AI can even be dangerous for humans. He also recalls China’s advances in industry. It is not common for a new technology to establish itself as fundamental in the tech industry.