'AI is not just a source of concern; it also holds immense potential for good.' Photo: by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
AI aye: Keith Wilson presents a novel view
‘Quakers can play a significant role in shaping AI’s future.’
Technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), is having an undeniable impact on our world. AI, often described as the emulation of human intelligence by machines, is transforming the way we live and work. As Quakers we should approach it with our values in mind.
The Quaker tradition emphasises simplicity, equality, and community. These values can be our guiding compass as we navigate the uncharted waters of AI. Simplicity encourages us to use technology mindfully, avoiding over-complication and excess. Equality reminds us to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to all. And community underscores our interconnectedness, inspiring us to use AI to create a better world.
AI’s power to make decisions and predictions can raise concerns about privacy, bias, and job displacement. Here too Quaker values can provide guidance. A concern for peace encourages us to use AI for the betterment of humanity, while equality calls us to ensure that AI applications are equitable and accessible. Integrity means that transparency and accountability should be at the forefront of AI development and usage.
AI is not just a source of concern; it also holds immense potential for good. For instance, AI can help revolutionise healthcare by aiding in diagnostics and personalised treatment plans. It can monitor the environment and contribute to sustainable practices. Moreover, AI can enhance disaster relief efforts by predicting and responding to natural calamities more efficiently.
Quakers can play a significant role in shaping AI’s future. Engaging in discussions about AI’s impact and ethical considerations is a critical step. We should promote ethical AI within our communities, highlighting the importance of responsible AI practices that reflect our values. Furthermore, Quaker principles call for discernment and mindfulness in the use of technology, reminding us to consider the broader implications of AI in society.
Friends stand at a crossroads. AI offers tremendous potential for good, but it also poses ethical challenges. By approaching AI with our core values, we can harness its benefits while addressing its risks. We must be advocates for ethical AI, ensuring that technology aligns with our principles. Our mindful and discerning use of AI can help create a more equitable and just world in line with Quaker values. As we navigate this technological frontier, let us do so with integrity, commitment to equality, and a sense of community, always striving to use AI as a force for good.
What do you think of AI and its capabilities? Maybe you haven’t experienced it yet. Or have you? With the exception of this paragraph, this article was written by an AI bot. It has been edited for length and house style, but otherwise the item largely appears as the AI ‘wrote’ it. It took about thirty seconds. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Please don’t worry though – the Friend team will continue to give preference to human authors. At least it will until the editorial function is taken over by an AI!
Comments
To me the elephant in the room here is ownership - who owns AI technology? And what control does society and the state have over the owners? As is so often the case with business in our capitalist societies, codes of practice are usually voluntary and monitored from within the industry. So we have ‘greenwash’ with the climate crises and we will no doubt soon have ‘ethicalwash’ or some such term with AI. To ‘promote ethical AI within our communities’ smacks to me of encouraging individual recycling while business wrecks havoc with the planet. The actions of Elon Musk with what was formerly known as twitter should ring warning bells.
AI is billed as the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, and back at the beginning of the first one, the story of the Luddites we are given is of being opposed to technological change. But how much was it about being opposed to ownership being taken out of the hands of self employed artisans? What if the new technology had been controlled by a cooperative of these artisans in the face of laissez-faire capitalism of the sort that is pretty much back with us today?
Back in that first industrial revolution, Quaker business owners were held to account by their monthly meetings, and faced disownment if they were unethical, though sadly all too often only to the meager standards of worker welfare of the day. But at least there was a system of social accountability, which is largely absent today.
Yes AI can be ‘a force for good’ but as things stand, perhaps only the good of the 1%.
By GordonF on 24th November 2023 - 11:54
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