Washington, Sept. 15 -- Former US President Barack Obama has said choices being made now over the development of artificial intelligence will determine whether the technology delivers major breakthroughs in medicine, energy and education or instead brings economic disruption, greater inequality and potential catastrophe.

In a post on X, Obama said he was encouraged by recent calls from leaders of frontier AI laboratories to slow the pace of development, describing the move as "a good and necessary first step". He said the growing debate over how AI should develop was equally important.

"I'm even more encouraged by the growing recognition that how this powerful new technology develops should be at the center of our public debate," Obama ...