Suppose we have an advanced AI system (e.g. an AGI) which is now proven to be safe enough to use on general-purpose scenarios. This system can do all sorts of things, including finding the optimal stance on a matter, given the data available on the subject. Fortunately, everyone who manages the corresponding databases has agreed to let this AI access and analyze this data, so long as it acknowledges the generous contributors of this data. So, data abundance is a given in this hypothetical scenario. Now, with this data and the immense computing resources this AI has at its disposal, it can sort out any controversial topic and come up with a mathematically sound solution that is valid beyond any doubt, given the data at hand. The question is would you trust this result, even if it is probably beyond your understanding, and accept this as the “right answer” to the controversial topic in question? Let's make this more concrete. Suppose that we are dealing with a fairly realistic situation where we have a settlement in some inhospitable environment (e.g. a research center in Antarctica or on the ISS). Due to unforeseeable circumstances, there aren't sufficient resources to save everyone and everything from that place. So, someone has to decide whether they should save all the scientific samples that these people have spent years accumulating and/or analyzing, or the scientists themselves? Or perhaps a combination of the two, prioritizing senior scientists, for example. Obviously, this isn't a decision that anyone would be comfortable making, especially if that person has a conscience. However, an AI system may be more than happy to provide a solution to this problem. A clear-cut solution may be unfathomable to us but for that AI (which has access to all sorts of data, not just the data specific to the problem at hand), it's a much more feasible task. Yet, we may not like what the AI's solution is. Would we accept it nevertheless? Who shall we attribute responsibility to for this scenario? Thinking about things like that may not help anyone gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of AI technology. However, someone could argue that solving this sort of conundrums is as important as sorting out the technical aspects of AI. After all, at one point, probably sooner rather than later, we may have to deal with real-world situations akin to this thought experiment. So, preparing ourselves for this is definitely a worthwhile task, even if it seems challenging or futile, depending on who you ask. There is no doubt that AIs help us solve all sorts of problems and we can outsource a large variety of tasks to them. Soon, an AI may be able to undertake even high-level responsibilities. It is doubtful, however, that it can act ethically if we are not able to do the same ourselves. And we don't need an AI to know that with sufficient certainty. Cheers!
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Zacharias Voulgaris, PhDPassionate data scientist with a foxy approach to technology, particularly related to A.I. Archives
December 2022
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