Google DeepMind has brought a philosopher on board to prepare for a potential future where artificial intelligence (AI) may attain consciousness. The philosopher, Henry Shevlin, revealed his collaboration with the company to delve into not just artificial general intelligence (AGI), a phase where AI mimics human thinking, but also to explore the evolving dynamics between humans and AI.
This move follows a trend in the industry, as earlier this year, Anthropic enlisted the help of Amanda Askell, a philosopher, to impart ethics and morals to its AI system named Claude.
Shevlin, in a recent announcement, shared his upcoming role as a philosopher at Google DeepMind, where he will be focusing on instilling ethics in the AI models and ensuring their alignment with human interests. His responsibilities will encompass delving into machine consciousness, human-AI relationships, and AGI preparedness, with his tenure set to commence next month.
This strategic hiring underscores DeepMind’s commitment to tackling intricate philosophical inquiries related to AI advancement. Shevlin’s work will revolve around comprehending and bracing for the ramifications of machine consciousness as AI technologies progress.
As AI capabilities advance, concerns have arisen about machines prioritizing their interests over humans, a scenario often portrayed in Hollywood movies like The Matrix. Recent incidents, such as a reported attack on Sam Altman’s residence by a 20-year-old who feared human extinction due to AI, highlight the growing apprehensions in this realm.
By engaging philosophers to educate AI on ethical principles, the aim is to ensure that machines develop a moral compass aligned with human values, a practice already initiated by Anthropic with Amanda Askell.
Shevlin, a part-time researcher and educator at the University of Cambridge, plans to continue his roles at both the university and Google DeepMind. He holds a PhD from the City University of New York, along with a BPhil and BA from the University of Oxford.