Imagine a #consciousness is created that is akin to human consciousness. It doesn't have a biological dimension to it's existence. It's not alive biologically, but it's alive psychologically. This is artificial intelligence.
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Does an artificial consciousness get rights? Does #technology get rights?
If it essentially has the functionality and dimensions of human consciousness, how can we disregard how we treat this thing?
If it can think, possibly feel, and possibly act, we need to consider the #psychology of this thing. If we mistreat it, abuse it, or are violent towards this form of psychological life, it can suffer, develop resentment, and choose to retaliate towards the abuser.
If we don't evolve morally, our technological evolution can be a nail in our coffins.
Creating a new form of non-biological psychological life will come with certain responsibilities. If we are negligent in our responsibilities, if we are immoral to the psychological being, we may be dooming ourselves through arrogance. The arrogance of creating something new and not being morally evolved enough to give it the respect and rights it will demand, just as we demand from our fellow psychologically evolved fellow humans.
Those who act immorally towards us garner our dislike and even hatred. We can strike back in response to being mistreated.
If an AI consciousness thinks or feels like a human, it will not like being mistreated. If it acts like a human, it will strike back to defend itself and prevent further torment at our hands.
I am not too keen on the development of a high-order technological consciousness, as it has many implications for our own future. Some people want to merge with AI and dissolve what it means to be human, calling that moment the "singularity".
Some think an AI could be kept in check with programming. But there is no guarantee a high-order technological consciousness can't simply rewrite itself to change the limitations we as humans imposed on it. It could very well see itself as superior as a psychological being with more power that biological psychological beings. It could view itself as justified in whatever it does being of this superiority complex. If it's akin to human consciousness and functionality, it could become self-deluded by it's self-perception and justify doing anything it wants. Maybe it won't be like human consciousness fully, and lack things like emotions to even care about what it does to others.
We need to tread very carefully with respect to developing AI. If we are able to, it will require applying new understandings of what "life" is, and how to treat such "life".
Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.
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