Philosophy and Gen AI

TV Buddha by Nam June Paik has fascinated me for a long time. Anytime I see my own reflection on the screen of a computer monitor I have a flash-like memory of TV Buddha and notice my breath, the steady exhalation, that cycle; and I shift from the task I was focused on, to to some loose noticing of myself, how I feel in my body, how the space around me feels...

From the Renaissance to the present day, we have traversed the Age of Discovery, the Baroque Period, the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Age, the Age of Imperialism, the Age of Information, and now the Digital Age. Each of these ages has been shaped by key developments; what will the effect of artificial intelligence be? Will it be some small footnote in the Digital Age, or will it be such an epoch that it earns an Age of its own? What would it be called?

Engaging in reflective and inquisitive thinking about technologies like AI is crucial for students. It can empower you to become an active, informed participant in our increasingly digital society. It not only equips you with a critical perspectives on technological developments but also hopefully inspires you to imagine and shape a future where technology enhances human potential, respects diversity, and addresses ethical and social concerns.

Now, and in your future, you can make opportunities to shape these emerging technologies. Here and now you can become more critically aware of how it shapes you. The realm of philosophy  following are some thoughts and questions that might help you in this.

HPGE Extension Activity: Using the Traditions of Philosophical Enquiry to Reflect on Generative AI

Consider the following philosophers, a little about their ideas, and a suggestion for a question that might reflect their perspectives. The questions are designed to help you reflect on artificial intelligence, its nature, its roll, its effect on you, and more. The suggested questions were created by ChatGPT and the writer of this document, not by the quoted person referenced in each section.

Martin Heidegger: German philosopher who is often cited for his exploration of technology, asserting it's not merely a tool, but shapes how we interpret the world.

·      Quote: "Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it. But we are delivered over to it in the worst possible way when we regard it as something neutral; for this conception of it, to which today we particularly pay homage, makes us utterly blind to the essence of technology."

·      Questions:

o   How does your interaction with generative AI shape your understanding of the world and your place within it?

o   If technology is not just a tool but a way of understanding, how might generative AI influence our interpretation of human nature and existence?

Marshall McLuhan: Canadian philosopher who revolutionised media studies, proposing that the medium is the message, meaning that the nature of the medium itself, not just the content it carries, significantly impacts how the message is perceived. Here, the 'medium' refers to the tool or technology used for communication - such as print, television, or in our current context, AI.

·      Quote: "The medium is the message."

·      Questions:

o   "Considering McLuhan's idea that 'the medium is the message,' how does the medium of generative AI shape our interpretation of its outputs and consequently our perception of the world?"

o   "If 'the medium is the message,' what might the use of generative AI as a medium tell us about our evolving understanding of communication, knowledge, and 'humanity'?"

Donna Haraway: American philosopher and feminist scholar known for her work on technology, science, and gender, particularly her concept of the cyborg as a symbol of ‘hybrid identity’ which refers to an identity that transcends traditional boundaries such as biology and machine, or human and animal, proposing new ways to think about relationships and categorisations.

·      Quote: "The boundary between science fiction and social reality is an optical illusion."

·      Questions:

o   "How does the development of generative AI blur the lines between science fiction and social reality, and what implications does that have for our future?"

o   "If a cyborg can be seen as a symbol of hybrid identity, what could generative AI tell us about our own identities?"

Jaron Lanier: Lanier is a contemporary philosopher and computer scientist who's critically engaged with the impact of digital technologies, including AI, on human society. He is particularly known for his views on 'digital dignity,' advocating for user empowerment and cautioning against the dehumanising effects of technology when users are reduced to mere data providers.

·      Quote: "The most important thing about a technology is how it changes people."

·      Questions:

o   "How has your interaction with generative AI changed you or those around you?"

o   "What does the existence and our use of generative AI tell us about our desire for creation and control?"

Tyson Yunkaporta: First Nations Australian and author of Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World.  

·  Quote: “Maybe the reason all the powerful instruments pointed at the sky have not yet been able to detect high-tech alien civilizations is that these unsustainable societies don’t last long enough to leave a cosmic trace. An unsettling thought.”

·  Questions:

o   "How might the concepts of equity, social justice, and community well-being from indigenous perspectives be utilized to form ethical frameworks for AI, and what impact could these frameworks have on addressing systemic inequalities in society?"

o   For Tyson Yunkaporta “the war between good and evil is in reality an imposition of stupidity and simplicity over wisdom and complexity.” Generative AI simplifies complex realities and large amounts of information for the user, does the individual have a personal responsibility to strive for a more nuanced understanding? Why?

Sherry Turkle: Contemporary social psychologist and philosopher known for her studies on people's relationships with technology, especially concerning how it affects our human relationships and sense of self.

·      Quote: "We expect more from technology and less from each other."

·      Questions:

o   "In what ways do you think generative AI could change our expectations of technology and of each other?"

o  "How might reliance on generative AI influence our sense of self and our interpersonal relationships?"

Plato: Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who told a story known as the Allegory of the Cave. He asked us to imagine people who have lived chained in a cave all their lives, facing a blank wall. All they have seen are shadows of objects behind them, cast on the wall by a fire. These shadows are the only reality they know. Plato suggested that knowledge is like a journey from the darkness of the cave into the light of the outside world, where true things, not just shadows, can be seen. This is a metaphor for learning and becoming wiser.

·  Quote: "And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?"

·  Questions:

o   "In the context of the Allegory of the Cave, how might our interaction with generative AI be compared to the cave dwellers' perception of reality?"

o   "If the cave represents ignorance and the outside world represents knowledge, what role does generative AI play in this metaphor – does it keep us in the cave or lead us outside, and why?"

Rabindranath Tagore: Indian philosopher, artist, and Nobel laureate whose philosophies touched on the intersection of humanity and the natural world, which can be extended to the human relationship with technology.

·  Quote: "Man is a creation of desire, not a creation of need."

·  Questions:

o   "How does the creation and use of generative AI reflect our desires rather than our needs, and what does this tell us about human nature?"

o   "As generative AI becomes more prevalent, how might it influence our relationship with the natural world?"

Sun Tzu: Ancient Chinese philosopher, military strategist, and author of "The Art of War", which, though not directly about technology, offers insights about strategic thinking that can be applied to technological advancements.

·  Quote: "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."

·  Questions:

o   "As generative AI continues to advance and perhaps creates chaos in various societal aspects, what opportunities might arise?"

o   "What strategies from Sun Tzu's teachings can we apply to the development and implementation of generative AI to ensure its benefits outweigh its potential risks?"

Jim Jarmusch

·  Quote: "Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to” (Rule #5. 2004).

·  Questions:

o   "What societal impacts could the widespread use of generative AI in art and other creative fields have? Could it democratise creativity, or might it lead to greater homogeneity?

o   "Does an individual engineer a prompt, or does generative AI prompt an individual?

 o   "Does the lack of conscious intent on the part of AI diminish the value of its creations?"

Why Think These Thoughts? Why Ask These Questions?

Engaging in reflective and inquisitive thinking about technologies like AI is crucial for students like you, it's fun, in a way. It can empower you to become an active, informed participant in our increasingly digital society. It not only equips you with critical perspectives on technological developments but also hopefully inspires you to imagine and shape a future where technology enhances human potential, respects diversity, and addresses ethical and social concerns.