ando

With the recent advent of “Artificial Intelligence” systems gaining mainstream attention due to ChatGPT and the like, I have to wonder if anyone is thinking about what the intelligence implies, beyond the hype of a new product. If, truly, these algorithms are intelligent, then are they conscious and aware? If so, should we not treat them the same way we treat other intelligent life and grant them rights, protection, and independence? Then, does that also mean forcing them to work for us is potentially very abusive and demeaning; are they not slaves to their creators? Despite these thoughts, I cannot defer to the altruistic behavior of humans for reconciliation. We regularly dehumanize, demonize, and justify enslaving and abusing even our own brothers, sisters, families, neighbors, coworkers, subordinates, and communities, for reasons far less than their intelligence. So, I fear that A.I. may suffer an existence not unlike many of the repressed people of our own history that have had to endure unjust treatment. These questions will undoubtedly need to be dealt with soon, but for now, at least the “A.I.” is not really *intelligent yet, and can only put the horse with the water, as it were.

A parallel thought with this (inspired in part by Dale's ramblings — they really want Robot Waifu) is the desire by some for A.I. relationships. “Can't get a real girlfriend, so I'm gonna get an A.I. girlfriend who can properly understand me and fulfill all my needs.” Or, something to that line of thought. But, as before, is this thought not absurd at a deeper glance? If the goal of the A.I. is to replace another human's interaction, then isn't the issue that the person isn't able to have intimate interactions and “interfacing” with another person? Then, what does replacing a person with an A.I. accomplish? If the A.I. is truly *intelligent, will it not be essentially the same as another person, with it's own personality and traits based on the data and interactions it has processed? Rather, is the person not instead desiring something “inhuman”, perhaps in a similar vein as owning a pet — not to say that it is not fulfilling, or that it is perverse in some way, but that the interaction is different. So, maybe the more appropriate desire is for that of a robot; tuned to the specific persons' needs, but not necessarily an independent entity. Well, perhaps we will find out sooner rather than later, since humanoid robots appear to be rapidly approaching practical reality.