What’s it all about?
Can humanity bring new life into existence? Machines that are aware of themselves and seek their own betterment?
What happens if and when our creations prove better than us at nearly every task imaginable? It’s one thing for a robot to take your job, but what if a machine could be better than you in every conceivable way? A better cook, a better writer, a better scientist, a better partner? And what happens when a true AI sets its sights on the ultimate goal of all life: perfection?
What will we cover?
We are going to take a look at the current approaches to artificial intelligence and possible scenarios for its development. We’ll learn about, and discuss, the social, political, economic and psychological implications of a self-aware AI for humanity.
We’ll also consider the intentions and likely goals for a true AI, and what that might mean for its creators. Finally, we’ll talk about some of the options for dealing with this challenge, and the pros and cons of each.
Who will be teaching?
Gordon Young is a professional ethicist and environmental consultant. He is a lecturer in Professional Ethics at RMIT, Principle at Ethilogical Consulting and writer at theethicsof.com, where he explores a new topic each week.