The Pro-Human AI Declaration
If there's one good thing about AI we can all agree on, is its power to unite us all around a common cause. In many ways, AI is like an uninvited spaceship landing from another planet. We hope it's friendly, but we don't know what will unfold once its doors unlatch and open. It's scary.
My interest in AI began some years ago when its developers determined their mission was to replace the human workforce with super intelligent, speed of light AI agents. That irked me, so I started to follow the threads of these developers on X. What I learned was unsettling and maddening.
The women developing AI were already sounding the alarm and publishing papers about the language models having misogynistic and racist leanings. They were fired. The men were giddy about what they were developing. They saw themselves as chosen gods who were building a new life form, one that would far supersede humans in intelligence and go on to create a more efficient, advanced civilization.
Most disturbing was how many of these developers sparred over who among them was first to endorse the need for eugenics, a national dictatorship, and a streamlined world where only the fittest survive. Is it any wonder there are concerns about bioweapons being deployed?
Fortunately, people are waking up. And yet, considering the profit motive and desire to replace humans with cheap bots, AI will move forward as surely as Trump's ballroom. Whatever we may do to stop the madness will likely be comparable to slapping a warning label on a cigarette package.
One thing we can all do is endorse The Pro-Human AI Declaration. I'm pledging to make it a priority. People on opposite sides of the political spectrum, such as Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon, have endorsed it.
You can read the Declaration at https://humanstatement.org/ and learn who some of its other many endorsers are. It's a start.
Well Street
Anything Bernie and Bannon collectively agree on is worth serious consideration.
When AI executives and politicians regard citizens' concerns as naive, small-minded, and lacking grand vision, along with data centers, it's no wonder there's backlash toward the technology.
For decades, Hollywood has depicted the creation of AI, its integration into everyday life, and how it ultimately goes rogue and does away with us. That may contribute to why we "naive and small-minded" folk more easily accept the potential for catastrophe.
Thank you for posting this declaration.
Evangel
Surely, it's time we do accept the threat, considering those who've created it are throwing up so many red flags now. It's only those who are heavily invested financially that want this to move at full stream ahead.
Homeless Valley
It's smart they're doing this. Everyone should endorse it. Mob rule can be a good thing when the kings are doing very bad things.
Evangel
Tackling the bad that is being called out is the sane thing to do. The very bad is throwing caution to the wind and telling the public they've got nothing to worry about. To believe that would be our bad.
Wilsons Grave
Nice idea, but nothin about our politics and economic system adds up to pro-human. If it were, we'd be living in a more gracious, compassionate world.
Evangel
There was a time when technology meant creating advancements that helped people like building refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, telephones, rototillers, lawnmowers, and power drills. These things made life easier. But now it seems, technology is more about sending rockets off to harvest natural resources on other planets or creating bots that will help businesses reduce their workforces. That's about making profits largely, not helping people. In fact, we now know much of AI puts people at risk of job loss, a new pandemic being unleashed, fraud, disinformation, and much more we're clueless about.
Slipstream
I'm with you on your pledge. AI is a science project gone wrong. As I read The Pro-Human Declaration, I couldn't help but wish that they would apply many of these points to corporations and our government. Both are actively becoming less humane every day. Thanks for posting this. We're in scary times that's for sure.
Evangel
So true, every word.
Present Valley
I am mildly familiar with AI. In the beginning from what I remember there were conversations about how it would benefit the medical community with earlier diagnosing. I was all for that.
Lately it seems the conversations are about terrorizing the American people and the world. Controversy off the charts, finger pointing and blaming…plenty to go around, fear building.
I can honestly admit I no longer know who or what to believe and my nervous system like everyone else’s cannot handle all that is coming at us these days. Regardless of what life is bringing, discernment and staying grounded are key so I can face each thing from an informed rational space.
I appreciate being able to read the declaration. It informed me. Thank you for posting it.
Evangel
I totally understand how you feel. I think the most informed place we can gain knowledge from is from many of the creators of AI. They are wanting to slow things down and are, therefore, sounding the alarm. We're being asked to pay attention and call on our leaders to create new laws that enable some level oversight and safety provisions that are very much needed. This technology is very useful in some fields just as nuclear power is, but in other ways it poses an existential threat as nuclear warheads do. It's good to discuss our concerns. Thanks for sharing yours.