You write: "It's how we use things that makes the difference. Let’s harvest the fruits of AI consciously. Let’s learn to use it wisely." One way we can do this, I think you'll agree, is to write as you do here, to inform and exhort readers. But if the opportunities and threats are as great as so many of us believe, we're going to have to get organized, enter the public sphere, participate in a mass political and cultural movement.
And we have so little time.
I see several allies to your viewpoint writing here on Substack and elsewhere. Do you know of any people or organizations seeking to build a movement to teach everyone how use AI wisely, for humanity, rather than for-profit companies and for-power governments?
PauseAI is the closest I know--and they say pause, till we figure this out.
Hello Houston and thank you for your comment! Unfortunately, while some organizations advocate for the development of ethical AI, there is little meaningful action from civil society to build a real movement around it. In my view, many people exist in a state of blissful complacency when it comes to AI (“it makes our difficult lives easier, and that’s enough"). But I don't believe that pausing AI development is a viable solution. There is simply too much at stake for governments and corporations; attempting to halt its progress is like trying to stop a tsunami. We 'll lose stamina for something that was lost from the beginning. I believe that this is why the well-known open letter calling for a pause in AI development, despite being signed by over 2,500 prominent figures, ultimately made little impact. I believe the only real path forward is a strong civic movement capable of pressuring governments to prioritize ethical AI. But unfortunately, far too many people remain indifferent.
Okay, if halt is not possible, then maybe we should at least try to slow it down while we build that civic engagement.
And maybe pause is possible, e.g., if there is a big "accident" or fatal catastrophe, the will to pause might suddenly become very strong. E.g. after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, public opinion shifted quickly (I think.)
The notion that we can't stop the tsunami--tho probably right--seems fatalistic to me. I want to cling to some hope!
Let me begin by saying that I reject both fatalism and technological determinism. That said, I believe the idea of pausing AI development, while crucial in principle, is ultimately unrealistic. I am not sure about the ability to slow it down either (I wish it could happen, but I don’t think tech billionaires are very eager to do that). Rather than wasting time hoping for a pause, we should focus all our energy on pushing for the ethical design and proper alignment of AI systems. Considering the possibility of a big accident… Wow!
Maybe those working for a pause are raising awareness that encourages public demands for ethical design and proper alignment--so we are all working for the same cause :)
You collect so much so tightly here. I wonder if you stand strongly by your claims about what AI "can" do, or that passage could read: "AI may be able to bring unprecedented progress and provide revolutionary solutions to longstanding human problems. But with such vast reach and rapid scalability, the harm from misuse might be just as sweeping." I mean, we have our hunches and reasonable conclusions about this powerful alien in our midst, but so far we don't KNOW that it really can bring unprecedented progress or sweeping misuse.
I'm started to wonder if we have leaped from thinking it will be to proclaiming that it will be.
I have absolutely no certainty about anything that AI might or might not bring. If it seems like I feel certain about something, please blame my English, it's not my native language. 🙂 Honestly, I don't think anyone (not even the people developing AI) can be truly sure about what lies ahead. That said, AI is already showing signs of extraordinary progress. Just consider AlphaFold, which solved a mystery that had puzzled biologists for over 50 years. We're also seeing extremely promising developments in personalized medicine, diagnostics, precision agriculture, and environmental protection. We've seen AI entering the most "forbidden area"* of our existence, our thoughts, in order to help a fully non-verbal ALS patient type his thoughts with his brain! Of course, the harms are equally real, and I believe the potential for harm is even greater.
Taking all this into account, I think we already have enough evidence to draw some early conclusions. But certainty? No, there is no certainty. Only assumptions.
*If I could write in my native language, Greek, I would use the word "άβατον", but it seems there isn't an exact equivalent in English.
Your strong call at the end has me wondering.
You write: "It's how we use things that makes the difference. Let’s harvest the fruits of AI consciously. Let’s learn to use it wisely." One way we can do this, I think you'll agree, is to write as you do here, to inform and exhort readers. But if the opportunities and threats are as great as so many of us believe, we're going to have to get organized, enter the public sphere, participate in a mass political and cultural movement.
And we have so little time.
I see several allies to your viewpoint writing here on Substack and elsewhere. Do you know of any people or organizations seeking to build a movement to teach everyone how use AI wisely, for humanity, rather than for-profit companies and for-power governments?
PauseAI is the closest I know--and they say pause, till we figure this out.
Hello Houston and thank you for your comment! Unfortunately, while some organizations advocate for the development of ethical AI, there is little meaningful action from civil society to build a real movement around it. In my view, many people exist in a state of blissful complacency when it comes to AI (“it makes our difficult lives easier, and that’s enough"). But I don't believe that pausing AI development is a viable solution. There is simply too much at stake for governments and corporations; attempting to halt its progress is like trying to stop a tsunami. We 'll lose stamina for something that was lost from the beginning. I believe that this is why the well-known open letter calling for a pause in AI development, despite being signed by over 2,500 prominent figures, ultimately made little impact. I believe the only real path forward is a strong civic movement capable of pressuring governments to prioritize ethical AI. But unfortunately, far too many people remain indifferent.
Okay, if halt is not possible, then maybe we should at least try to slow it down while we build that civic engagement.
And maybe pause is possible, e.g., if there is a big "accident" or fatal catastrophe, the will to pause might suddenly become very strong. E.g. after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, public opinion shifted quickly (I think.)
The notion that we can't stop the tsunami--tho probably right--seems fatalistic to me. I want to cling to some hope!
Let me begin by saying that I reject both fatalism and technological determinism. That said, I believe the idea of pausing AI development, while crucial in principle, is ultimately unrealistic. I am not sure about the ability to slow it down either (I wish it could happen, but I don’t think tech billionaires are very eager to do that). Rather than wasting time hoping for a pause, we should focus all our energy on pushing for the ethical design and proper alignment of AI systems. Considering the possibility of a big accident… Wow!
Maybe those working for a pause are raising awareness that encourages public demands for ethical design and proper alignment--so we are all working for the same cause :)
That’s true ;-)
Exactly
You collect so much so tightly here. I wonder if you stand strongly by your claims about what AI "can" do, or that passage could read: "AI may be able to bring unprecedented progress and provide revolutionary solutions to longstanding human problems. But with such vast reach and rapid scalability, the harm from misuse might be just as sweeping." I mean, we have our hunches and reasonable conclusions about this powerful alien in our midst, but so far we don't KNOW that it really can bring unprecedented progress or sweeping misuse.
I'm started to wonder if we have leaped from thinking it will be to proclaiming that it will be.
I have absolutely no certainty about anything that AI might or might not bring. If it seems like I feel certain about something, please blame my English, it's not my native language. 🙂 Honestly, I don't think anyone (not even the people developing AI) can be truly sure about what lies ahead. That said, AI is already showing signs of extraordinary progress. Just consider AlphaFold, which solved a mystery that had puzzled biologists for over 50 years. We're also seeing extremely promising developments in personalized medicine, diagnostics, precision agriculture, and environmental protection. We've seen AI entering the most "forbidden area"* of our existence, our thoughts, in order to help a fully non-verbal ALS patient type his thoughts with his brain! Of course, the harms are equally real, and I believe the potential for harm is even greater.
Taking all this into account, I think we already have enough evidence to draw some early conclusions. But certainty? No, there is no certainty. Only assumptions.
*If I could write in my native language, Greek, I would use the word "άβατον", but it seems there isn't an exact equivalent in English.