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AI and Morality
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
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Philosophy
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Ethics, not morals, but yes, this is a core part of "alignment" or making sure the machine wants the same thing we do. It turns out alignment is really hard because ethics is really hard. The classic AI doomsday story is based on an AI that took utilitarianism as the highest end goal (the best way to save humanity is to destroy it); that's an ethical framework used to justify genocide.
So shorter answer: "Yes, but ethics is hard". I really like Robert Miles' videos on this topic; here's one to get you started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeecOKBus3Q
And here's another very related one for after: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEUO6pjwFOo
Thank you for your reply and I think you are in the same headspace as I am on this topic. I will check out the links you posted. A side note: what is the difference between ethics and morals?
My pleasure!
Morality has a religious basis and ultimately comes down to "God's will is how things should be, so how close is it to God's will?"
Meanwhile, ethics is secular and tries to answer questions of "right" and "wrong" in the absence of an omnipotent power.
I see your point. Thank you for your well worded explanation.
My personal view is not to see religious or secular but that we are all dealing with the same thing.
I enjoy CS Lewis’s discussions on universal morality as he was someone who was an atheist who later professed faith in Jesus Christ.
At least in philosophy the two terms are interchangeable. Moral philosophy deals with all sorts of ethical theories, not just divine command theory (God's commands decide what's moral and what isn't)