Nov 23, 2022
Of the many hopes that society hangs on artificial intelligence, one is its potential to clean up the results of human messiness. Whether on a large scale (solving climate change, reducing war crimes through use of autonomous weapons) or on an individual one (sex robots for isolated people), AI promises to sidestep the problems caused by human limitations.
But in making computers to solve ethical dilemmas and
robots to enter relationships, are we creating something in our own
image? Is it possible to separate intelligence or emotion from the
body? Would the result live up to its promise, or simply be
monstrous?
Noreen Herzfeld, who teaches both computer science and theology,
has spent a lot of time reflecting on these issues. She and
Gretchen discuss the many questions that arise from that
contemplation. Why is it so important to us to seek other forms of
sentience—whether robots, pets, or even alien life? If AI fulfills
the role of other persons in our life, can it become our
“neighbor?” How does the way we treat and think about AI impact our
relationships with other humans, for better or for worse?