Intro
In this episode of Philosophy Bites, host David Edmonds interviews Seth Lazar, a Professor of Political Science and Philosophy, about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on political philosophy. Lazar highlights the need for political philosophy to pay closer attention to AI, as it has the potential to reshape power dynamics and social relations in our society.
Main Takeaways
The Impact of AI on Power Dynamics
- The AI revolution will impact who has power.
- AI affects social relations through algorithmic intermediaries.
- Algorithmic intermediaries use AI to shape social relations on digital platforms.
- AI is the dynamically updating part of algorithmic intermediaries.
- AI is always built on a broader infrastructure involving other types of software and hardware, as well as human labor.
Algorithmic Intermediaries and Social Structures
- Chatbots and chat search are examples of a copilot for the web, where a dialogue agent engages with users and curates information for them.
- Recommender systems and other algorithmic intermediaries shape how we access and relate to information, and our relationships with each other.
- Two-sided markets like Amazon and Airbnb function similarly to traditional markets, but the platform negotiates on either side with the two parties.
- Algorithmic systems exercise power over us, shape power relations between us, and ultimately shape our social structures over time.
- Computational systems exercise power over us and shape our social structures over time.
- Algorithmic intermediaries shape power relations between us, enabling us to do various things to one another.
- Pathologies of online behavior fundamentally come down to some people exercising power over others.
- Digital media and intermediaries can be empowering, but we are subject to the power of those who decide how those systems are run.
- We have benefited from the power of those who decide how these systems are run so far, but we are subject to their benevolent power.
- Intermediary power is important to identify and diagnose.
- Political philosophy has paid little attention to intermediaries.
- Naming power is not enough to criticize it.
- Three underlying values for presumptive grounds for suspicion of power: liberty, equality, and collective self-determination.
- Presumption can be defeated or overridden.
- Tech companies believe they will do good with their power.
- Overriding liberty, equality, and collective self-determination is rarely justified.
- Silencing or defeating objections is better than simply overriding them.
- Values like liberty, equality, and collective self-determination matter a lot.
- Algorithmic intermediaries need to govern the social relations they mediate to avoid misinformation and hate speech online and to have a communicative environment that serves democracy and social justice.
The Future of AI and Democracy
- Democratic authority is necessary for appropriate exercise of AI systems.
- Platforms are tasked with avoiding certain kinds of systemic risks.
- Computational systems predictably lead to certain kinds of social harms.
- The impacts of computational systems should be viewed with the same caution as other technologies.
- AI systems could lead us to something much more transformative.
- Advances in rendering large language models operationalizable through ethics work.
- Large language models could be used as platforms for many other industries in the next iteration of platform capitalism.
- Some people believe AI systems will lead to a slow takeoff towards artificial general intelligence (AGI).
- Democratic legitimacy is needed for pursuing AGI, as it could pose an existential risk to human survival.
- The discussion around AI systems and AGI raises questions about what kind of future we want.
- The power of AI systems raises questions about the kind of future we want.
- Developing AI systems that lack procedural legitimacy and proper authority could lead to a deeply alienating future.
- Philosophers can make important contributions to identifying and diagnosing moral problems in AI.
- Philosophy should be more outward-looking and grounded in empirical and technical understanding of AI.
- Academic research in AI is having a significant impact on the development of these technologies, particularly in auditing their capabilities for bias and discrimination.
- Democratic power is crucial in regulating the impact of AI on society, even though the financial stakes for individuals may not be significant.
- Academic research has influenced the development of regulations such as the EU’s AI Act and Digital Markets Act, particularly in addressing bias and discrimination in AI.
- Philosophers have not yet played a significant role in these debates, but can contribute by learning about AI and making legible contributions to other fields.
- Philosophy Bites books offer a resource for learning about philosophy and its intersections with technology.
- Listeners can support Philosophy Bites by visiting their website.
Summary
The Impact of AI on Power Dynamics
AI revolutionizes power dynamics by shaping social relations through algorithmic intermediaries. These intermediaries use AI to curate and control information, ultimately influencing our social structures. Computational systems exercise power over us, and understanding the role of algorithmic intermediaries is crucial in identifying and diagnosing power imbalances.
Algorithmic Intermediaries and Social Structures
Algorithmic intermediaries, such as chatbots and recommender systems, shape how we access information and interact with each other. They can enable both empowerment and pathologies of online behavior. Recognizing the power dynamics in these systems and governing them to avoid misinformation and hate speech is essential for a communicative environment that serves democracy and social justice.
The Future of AI and Democracy
As AI advances, questions arise about the kind of future we want. Democratic authority and legitimacy are necessary in regulating AI systems to avoid social harms and ensure a transformative future. Philosophers can contribute by identifying and diagnosing moral problems in AI and engaging in empirical and technical understanding. Academic research has influenced regulations addressing bias and discrimination in AI, emphasizing the importance of democratic power in shaping AI’s impact on society.
Conclusion
AI’s impact on political philosophy and power dynamics cannot be ignored. Understanding the role of algorithmic intermediaries and governing them in alignment with values like liberty, equality, and collective self-determination is crucial for a future that serves democracy and social justice. Philosophers have the opportunity to contribute to these debates and ensure that AI systems are developed and regulated in a way that benefits society as a whole.
