IFF Research Seminar: Per Algander (Umeå University), ”Meaningful life in AI Utopia"

In “AI utopia” artificial systems have been developed to a point where they are better than humans at everything. Whether it is proving mathematical theorems, driving a car, or designing a just society, the aims of these activities would be better achieved by artificial systems than by humans. In this talk, we argue that the way in which AI utopia would be worse than the current state of affairs is that it would make many achievements artificial. We define artificial achievements by drawing on Bernard Suits’s famous definition of games as “the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.” In a life where the only challenges come from taking on unnecessary obstacles, our distinctive human abilities are never required to achieve anything worthwhile. Our account thus explains why AI utopia would still allow for difficult challenges and genuine achievements. After all, it still is a remarkable achievement to be the best human Go player or best human composer. But it also shows why something is lacking if our only achievements are game-like due to involving unnecessary obstacles.

(Paper co-authored by Per Algander and Christian Loew)

Wednesday 11/11, 12:15 – 14:00

Location: Teorifagbygget HUS1, Innsikten 1.524 and on Teams

This seminar is part of the IFF Research Seminar series. For link to Teams, please contact the organiser.