The true challenge lies not only in creating increasingly intelligent technology or enacting new laws to regulate it but also in how we, as humans, operate in this increasingly digitized world.
In times when our societies are shaped by technology, we must realize that the key to solving global problems lies not solely in technology but in our ability to become better and more peaceful individuals.
Artificial Intelligence – Trapped in Plato’s Cave
In a way, our artificial intelligences resemble the prisoners Plato describes in his famous allegory of the cave. Like the prisoners in Plato’s allegory, our machines are bound, but not by physical chains; rather, they are constrained by the limitations of data and algorithms.
Machines can perceive the world mathematically, but they cannot feel it
They can only perceive the world as it is reflected in the data, without a deep understanding of the true nature of things, as they truly are, in all their complexity and beauty.
Even if they can recognize a cat in an image, they still don’t know what it feels like to stroke a cat. They can only analyze its patterns and features. They will never know the feeling of a cat’s fur and warmth.
Machines neither feel love nor pain
That’s why human adaptability to our digital technologies is so crucial today. Artificial intelligences can undoubtedly assist us in accessing complex data and identifying patterns we might overlook on our own.
Nevertheless, we must not place trust in the judgment of our artificial companions, for they do not know our world, but only its digital and emotionless representation.
Smart machines and algorithms are becoming increasingly like our sparring partners, our everyday tools. However, quality assurance and control of their work and results must remain in human hands in the future.
Their inability to experience the world with all its senses makes us humans irreplaceable
In a future driven by artificial intelligence, we need more than ever what I call ‘Human Sensors.’
These ‘sensors’ represent our knowledge of the analog world, our ability to experience sensations like love and pain, our intuition, and our moral judgment. A world aiming for justice must inevitably consider data as a democratic asset.
We must ensure that access to this data is equally possible for all and that it is used for the benefit of society. It is up to us to maintain the connection between the digital and analog worlds and ensure that our future is guided by humanity and wisdom.
Amidst the wars and crises that afflict our world, the pressing question should not only be how to make our technology smarter but rather how humanity can undergo a profound transformation. We should understand that true power does not reside in our machines and digital tools, but in how we use them. They should not be used to develop smarter war machines or for more exploitation and oppression.
We can feel the pain of others
In light of the unrest and destruction we witness in the world, we should recognize that our pursuit of becoming better and more peaceful individuals forms the foundation for a more hopeful future. It is up to us to harness our abilities, not just for technological advancement but also for moral and ethical progress. Only when we collectively choose to prioritize our humanity and compassion can we hope that our tools can also bring us global peace and security.
In the darkest hour, let the realization shine through that the path to a better world leads not only through technology but primarily through the improvement of our own beings. It is time for us to evolve as humans and strive together to create a world where our advancements no longer contribute to destruction but to our enlightenment.
Only then will our tools be true instruments of peace and progress.