The Dangers of Long-termism and the Real Problems with Advanced AI

In recent news, an open letter calling for a six-month pause on artificial intelligence (AI) development has brought attention to the ideology of long-termism. Long-termism prioritizes the lives of hypothetical humans living thousands of years in the future over those alive today. This ideology, which values the potential existence of trillions of humans living in a state of endless utopic bliss within simulated realities, has sparked concern among many about the future of AI development.

Proponents of long-termism believe that any potential threat to the realization of this future must be eliminated, leading to extreme measures such as global surveillance networks and the use of "preventive policing." Philosopher and long-termist figurehead Nick Bostrom has advocated for invasive surveillance, strict limits on autonomy, and the reduction of social plurality in the name of achieving civilizational stabilization and reducing existential risks.

However, this kind of invasive surveillance and dystopian reality may not be necessary to develop advanced AI. Researcher and Australian Computer Society Fellow Roger Clarke suggests that we need to re-conceive AI away from the notion of achieving human-like super-intelligence and towards a model of augmented intelligence. Augmented intelligence would prioritize the needs of present-day humans, ensuring that these technologies serve us, rather than the other way around.

The real problems with advanced AI, as this video explains, are more human than machine. The Robodebt scandal in Australia, for example, highlights how human failure to reduce harm for political, personal, and professional gains can cause real-world harm. Ethical considerations and accountability measures must be put in place to ensure that AI development serves humanity rather than the other way around.

Watch this video to learn about the potential dangers of long-termism in AI development, the real problems with advanced AI rooted in human actions, and how we can re-conceive AI to mitigate negative impacts.

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