The new challenge of artificial humanism
Ai now exceeds human performance in any task, but we can influence it by promoting human prosperity instead of undermining it
After having been the guiding star of artificial intelligence researchers for decades, today the Turing test has been quietly passed. Given the emergence of reasoning patterns and agential capabilities of Ai, as well as the increase in the pace at which its infrastructure is being built, we can say that we have passed a turning point in the journey towards superintelligence, that is, the point at which artificial intelligence surpasses the human performance level in any given task.
Indeed, the most important question for our time is not whether Ai will overtake us, because in some ways it already has (try beating an Ai in general knowledge questions), in other ways it will, and in other ways we will always remain unique. The real question is whether we can influence artificial intelligence in the sense of promoting human prosperity rather than undermining it. This is the most important challenge of our time.
Of course, by now we are all ready to turn up our noses at the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, I understand that. But the stakes could not be higher. Science and technology have always been humanity's main engine of progress. In the last 250 years, this engine has doubled life expectancy, lifted billions out of poverty and provided antibiotics, electricity and instant global communications. Artificial intelligence is the next chapter in this story as it represents our best opportunity to accelerate scientific discovery, economic growth and human well-being. Every time you hear about artificial intelligence, it is worth considering this potential.
But effectively exploiting the potential of Ia will only be possible if we know how to build it in the right way. Making mistakes in this regard would have immense costs. No one can yet give reassuring answers as to how to contain or align such systems. We are in a special moment, grappling with the most powerful technologies in history but without knowing how to control them and whether they will always be beneficial.
In my opinion, we can gain clarity by framing it this way, because artificial intelligence, like all technology, can be evaluated with a simple test: does it improve human life? Is it objectively working in the service of people?
