Daron Acemoglu, Elizabeth & James Killian Professor of Economics at MIT and Nobel Prize Laurete in Economics from 2024, speaks about his perspective on techno-optimism in the era of artificial intelligence and other insights coming from his book, Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity, which appeared on the Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2023 List. Daron issues a warning about blind optimism during this pivotal moment in technology and draws on the key themes of power dynamics, techno-optimism, and effective regulation strategies from his book to explain the balance between power and progress and ways to counteract the accrual of power to a select few. He explains the three countervailing forces of democracy, worker voice, and regulation; the two key problems with regulations surrounding generative artificial intelligence; and what this future of AI regulation means on a global scale. Finally, as a writer himself, Daron talks about the Writer’s Strike as a defense against Generative AI, the potential benefits generative AI will have for writers of the future, and why he is optimistic about generative AI being a “job helper”.
In this TED Talk, techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci explores the challenges and risks associated with machine intelligence and its increasing role in making subjective decisions. She discusses how AI systems grow in complexity, making them difficult to understand and control. Tufekci highlights that AI can fail in unexpected ways, differing from typical human errors.
The IEEE webpage on "Autonomous and Intelligent Systems" highlights the organization's initiatives related to the ethical and responsible development of AI and autonomous systems. It provides an overview of the standards and frameworks that guide the design and deployment of these technologies, ensuring they are aligned with human values and societal needs.
This textbook "Ethically Aligned Design, Version 2" by IEEE provides comprehensive guidelines and recommendations for the ethical development and implementation of autonomous and intelligent systems. It emphasizes the importance of embedding human rights, transparency, accountability, and privacy into the design of AI and related technologies. The document covers various aspects, including ensuring fairness, preventing harm, and promoting the well-being of users and affected communities.
The article "8 Ways to Ensure Your Company’s AI Is Ethical," published by the World Economic Forum, outlines strategies for businesses to implement AI technologies responsibly and ethically.