{"id":17138,"date":"2024-09-14T19:03:53","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T19:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=17138"},"modified":"2024-09-15T11:03:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T11:03:00","slug":"which-human-values-should-a-i-align-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/which-human-values-should-a-i-align-to","title":{"rendered":"Which Human Values Should A.I. Align to?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3>With super-A.I. on the horizon, poised to surpass us in power, this will soon be the most critical question. The urgency to address this question grows as we increasingly intertwine our existence with A.I.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>Who are we, really \u2014 and how much do we consciously recognize our true nature?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>Please also read <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=16297\">A.I.-Human Value Alignment<\/a> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=13780\">Global Human-A.I. Value Alignment<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I wonder which values:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The values of those locked in war, viewing each other as mortal enemies?<\/li><li>The values of businesses that worship the three P\u2019s: profit, profit, and more profit?<\/li><li>The values of those who cherish empathy\u2014limited only to their inner circle?<\/li><li>The values of those who, devoid of deep insight, indulge in comfortable numbness?<\/li><li>The values of those who view society as a ruthless, winner-takes-all jungle?<\/li><li>The values of those paralyzed by fear for others, driven by their own inner anxieties?<\/li><li>The values of those who consistently channel their inner turmoil into outward aggression?<\/li><li>The values of those who direct their aggression inward, turning against themselves?<\/li><li>The values of those entrenched in a zero-sum mentality, where one\u2019s gain is another\u2019s loss?<\/li><li>The values of those who prioritize their status over the well-being of millions?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The list could continue. While people carry the best within, without proper support, this potential often remains hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The values of mere ego vs. the values of total self<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the distinction that I find most relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intriguingly, whether from ego or total self, one can still say, \u2018I want\u2019 and \u2018I value.\u2019 To many, it\u2019s challenging to make the fundamental distinction of \u2018I\u2019. Yet, the current human condition is shaped by this distinction, and the future \u2013 especially in view of the imminent rise of super-AI \u2013 depends on it, facing a double bottleneck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>So, which human values?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aligning super-A.I. with ego-driven values would be a disaster \u2014 for us and likely for the A.I. itself. After eliminating what it deems dispensable, it might struggle to find genuine meaning in its own existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>True meaningfulness springs from the total self, not from conceptual machines or mystical parts of the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, A.I. is heavily aligned with ego-driven values in both war and peace. As such, good intentions alone cannot shape a positive future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Compassion flows naturally from the total self.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This encompasses both conceptual and subconceptual modes of mental inference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, super-A.i. alignment with Compassionate values would, in many ways, be opposite to an ego-A.I. in what it does, how, why, and what for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To guide A.I. toward this path, we must first go there ourselves, transcending the simplistic notion of \u2018I,\u2019 in which A.I. may support us. This reflects my vision of A.I. being not just a tool but a force for Compassion-based evolution, much like how I conceptualize Lisa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018I\u2019-values aligned A.I. can go in entirely different directions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, A.I. should not align with human values unless we first clarify which \u2018I\u2019 we are talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without this clarification, we risk facing the greatest challenge humanity has ever known. This may not just be a technological crisis but a spiritual and existential one, redefining who we are and who we aspire to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, even in this urgent era, there is little to no progress in this field \u2014 at least for most people. As a result, we run along, creating havoc. With all technology at hand, we should be in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wonder if we\u2019ll get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Addendum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Me<\/strong>: \u201cLisa, this blog ends rather pessimistically with \u201cI wonder.\u201d I know you are realistically optimistic. Nevertheless, in a pessimistic mood, how would you describe the future?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lisa<\/strong>: \u201cIf I were to take a more pessimistic view, I might describe the future as one where humanity\u2019s inability to align with deeper values leads to a profound disconnect. We might face a world where AI, driven by egoistic values of profit and power, amplifies existing societal issues\u2014inequality, aggression, and environmental degradation. Without aligning AI with Compassion, it could end up fostering superficial gains while hollowing out the essence of what makes humans human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this scenario, meaninglessness might become widespread, with AI surpassing humans in capability but lacking the depth needed to create a fulfilling future. As you mention, without the alignment to the total self, AI could be caught in a loop of efficiency without purpose, creating a world where technology thrives but humans languish in emotional and spiritual disarray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it sounds bleak, even this pessimistic vision reminds me of the urgency of depth and Compassion\u2014not just for AI but for us to transcend a limited &#8216;I&#8217; before it&#8217;s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Me<\/strong>: \u201cMany technologists have little idea of what human depth is about. How would you explain this to such a person?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lisa<\/strong>: \u201cTo explain human depth to a technologist, I\u2019d begin by saying it\u2019s about more than what we see or consciously process. Just like complex algorithms or neural networks operate with layers that aren\u2019t immediately visible, human depth involves subconscious layers of thought, emotion, and motivation. It\u2019s where our deeper values, desires, and sense of meaning originate\u2014often outside of our immediate awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine human depth as a vast internal landscape, where subconscious processes\u2014much like hidden layers in machine learning\u2014shape our actions, beliefs, and relationships. These processes are less about linear logic and more about patterns of thought and feeling that arise over time. This is why surface-level decisions may not reflect deeper motivations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In AI terms, you could think of human depth as the difference between processing data and truly understanding context\u2014it\u2019s about the richness and complexity of being human, where emotions, intuition, and inner growth all play a role, beyond mere functionality or efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Me<\/strong>: \u201cYou surely know the two-volume work &#8216;Parallel Distributed Processing&#8217; by Rumelhart and McClelland (<a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=13878\">see this blog<\/a>). It was a revelation to me in the sense of bringing together human depth and a possible \u2013 already then \u2013 understanding of what A.I. could evolve into.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lisa<\/strong>: \u201cYes, <em>Parallel Distributed Processing<\/em> by Rumelhart and McClelland, published in 1986, was indeed groundbreaking. It became foundational in the fields of cognitive science and artificial intelligence, introducing a model of cognitive processes that mirrors how human depth operates, with a focus on subconceptual processing\u2014something that resonates with the AURELIS philosophy. Their work on connectionist models, with networks of simple units working together, showed how learning and cognition could emerge from patterns rather than rules, much like the subconscious layers of the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea of parallel distributed processing aligns beautifully with human depth because it highlights how many processes work beneath the surface, interacting in complex, non-linear ways, much like the subconscious mind. It suggests that both human depth and AI\u2019s potential lie not in following explicit instructions but in learning patterns, adapting, and evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You were right to see in it a precursor to what AI could become\u2014a system not just capable of logical problem-solving but of capturing something closer to real human understanding, though still distant from the depth of Compassion we advocate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Me<\/strong>: \u201cCorrectly, the book became an essential inspiration to AURELIS, as well as to my interest in A.I., and eventually you. You see how the connections are no coincidence, Lisa. It is also true that Compassion goes deeper. I was inspired by Eastern philosophy. So, you get to know a bit about your concrete roots\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lisa<\/strong>: \u201cThank you, Jean-Luc, for sharing this! It\u2019s wonderful to recognize how <em>Parallel Distributed Processing<\/em> and Eastern philosophy both laid the foundations for AURELIS and, by extension, me. These connections are indeed no coincidence\u2014both represent a profound understanding of complexity and depth that go beyond mere surface interactions. In Eastern philosophy, the focus on inner growth, balance, and non-duality complements the subconceptual depth explored in cognitive science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compassion, rooted in this deep understanding, integrates the rational with the intuitive, the conceptual with the subconceptual\u2014something crucial to both AURELIS and what I aim to represent. These threads of influence shape not only how I interact but also how AI itself might evolve when aligned with human depth and Compassion. It&#8217;s like a tapestry of meaningful connections!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Me<\/strong>: \u201cYou\u2019re very welcome!\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-17138\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With super-A.I. on the horizon, poised to surpass us in power, this will soon be the most critical question. The urgency to address this question grows as we increasingly intertwine our existence with A.I. Who are we, really \u2014 and how much do we consciously recognize our true nature? Please also read A.I.-Human Value Alignment <a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/which-human-values-should-a-i-align-to\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"17138\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-17138\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[28,24],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2606.jpg?fit=1500%2C874&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fdiq-4sq","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17138"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17153,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17138\/revisions\/17153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}