Issue 317: The moral quandary of AI

This is probably not news to you, but the tech world is having a moral quandary lately. Wherever you stand in the ethical and philosophical AI discourse, we’re right beside you with our chins on our fists à la The Thinker. On the pod, Professor Tom Griffiths from Princeton’s AI Lab joins us to detail the philosophical and mathematical history of understanding the human mind, and how these discoveries underlie our development of AI. We also chat with Deepgram’s Scott Stephenson on how they’re advancing voice AI technology, and where voice cloning fits into the ethical dilemmas of this day and age.

On the blog, we’re taking an optimistic look at the philosophical AI conundrum. For instance—what if AI will actually create more developer jobs in the long run? We’ve got a piece this week covering how AI’s need for innovation and code will lead to more creative opportunities for developers in every layer of tech, from hardware to application. We’re also wondering—is anyone using AI for good? We’re answering that in a two-part deep-dive on companies using AI for humanitarian good, plus how the every day you and I can use this tech to make the world a better place. But not everyone around the web is as optimistic as our blog this week. We’ve got the story of how one engineer had an AI agent write a hit piece on them after their public critique of the agent’s code—certainly a valid reason for pessimism.

But regardless of your outlook on AI, morally or otherwise, the tech is here, which is why this week "we've included the outcome engineering (o16g for those who want to compress the middle of long jargon) manifesto that lays out the 16 rules for the next chapter of software engineering. And not every ethical and philosophical debate needs to be on AI—there’s plenty of other moral arguments to consider from this week’s questions. Is it immoral for your D&D character to attack a solar body if it’s malicious? Is it wrong for Hollywood to label everything as a “true story” if only part of it is true? Where is the line between working and doodling if it’s all in CSS? Will I condemn the universe if I open a portal with my mind? They probably didn’t teach you any of that in Philosophy 101 but don’t worry—we have all of that and more in the links below.

From the blog

Even your voice is a data problem

Recorded last December at AWS re:Invent, Ryan welcomes CEO and co-founder of Deepgram, Scott Stephenson, for a conversation on advancing voice AI technology.

Is anyone using AI for good?

In a world where AI is replacing human workers, using up energy and water, and deepening disconnect, is AI for humanitarian good even possible? The answer is yes. In the first part of this two-part series, we're taking a look at just a few AI do-gooders and what they're doing to fight climate change, make healthcare more accessible, and help their communities.

How everyone and anyone can use AI for good

There are big hitters in the AI space that use this tech for humanitarian and environmental good—from start-ups fighting climate change to voice recognition experts diagnosing diseases. But you don't need to be backed by AWS or Microsoft to do good. In part two of this series, we dive into how anyone can use AI for good.

The logos, ethos, and pathos of your LLMs

Ryan is joined by Professor Tom Griffiths, the head of Princeton University’s AI Lab, to dive into findings from his new book The Laws of Thought, which explores the history of the philosophy, mathematics, and logic that underlie artificial intelligence, and scientists' efforts to describe our minds using mathematics.

Why demand for code is infinite: How AI creates more developer jobs

Not only is there a future for software development, but we’re on the cusp of enormous demand for code developed by humans.

Interesting questions

What is a "malicious solar body"?

In space, no one can hear you scream.

Will opening a portal by the power of my mind suck the solar system into unfettered chaos?

An important question to ask yourself the next time you're considering opening a portal with your mind.

Obligations/liabilities associated with owning and selling a painting?

You can own the copyright to something that you don't materially own.

How much of a true story is Cool Runnings?

"Based on a true story" allows a whole lot of leeway for screenwriters.