Evolution of AI: Tool or a Malevolent Force?

How do we think of AI? As a magical force, an existential threat, or an unprecedented expansive power?

In this session, we'll put AI inside an evolutionary perspective, recognizing the interaction of evolved human psychology and cultural forces that create this newest of human-technological eras.

In a long, human-technology coevolutionary view, AI is a but a tool, but one with its own capability to evolve. While initially trained on a digital corpus of human collective information, AI likely has multiple futures as human sociopolitical and economic incentives shape its deployment. It can be leveraged as a tool to benefit individuals and groups, but can also be used for exploitive ends such as cyber attacks and parasitizing human social needs.

With such a diverse range of possiblities, let's get together to examine the likely futures of our coexistence with AI, and what it means to our modern social landscape.

Suggested readings:

1. Reflections of an AI Data Point
2. An evolutionary biologist's take on the AI future