Silicon Valley's AI Visions Raise Ethical Concerns, Expert Argues

The way technology leaders envision humanity's ultimate destiny, or their "eschatology," is influencing the development of artificial intelligence behind closed doors, argues Liz Bucar in an analysis for Time. These leaders present distinct futures—ranging from resignation to survivalism to apocalypticism—but, according to Bucar, these visions share a common consequence: they exclude the public from shaping the future.

Bucar asserts that in each of these AI-driven future scenarios, the development process is not a collaborative effort but rather one where a select few create the future on behalf of everyone else. Specific concerns are raised about who is left out of these visions. For instance, one leader's future might accommodate "great companies" and "expanding human capability" but show less regard for individuals whose jobs could become obsolete due to AI. Another leader's future might offer a place for the wealthy on potential colony ships, but not for the general population. A third vision might prioritize innovation but offer little space for those questioning the purpose or direction of that innovation.

This exclusion, Bucar suggests, helps explain a perceived disinterest among some tech leaders in traditional philanthropy or profit-sharing. If the end of the human era and the rise of a new form of existence are seen as inevitable, the obligation to support current society may diminish. The rationale, in this view, is that investing in public health, housing, or a robust civil society becomes unnecessary if the envisioned future does not include the majority of beneficiaries. Similarly, funding education, infrastructure, or paying taxes for services that one will not personally need in the future may seem illogical.

According to Bucar's analysis, this type of eschatological thinking not only fails to foster ethical considerations but actively excuses their absence. Empathy can begin to appear as a wasteful allocation of resources when directed towards people who, within these future frameworks, are deemed no longer relevant.