There has been a buzz surrounding ChatGPT lately that has generated various opinions from people. Some see the AI chatbot as a negative thing that poses a lot of threats to our society while others see it as a tool that can help humanity be more efficient and productive.

Published in this article is my short conversation with AI about the nexus between AI and Humanism.

Me: Hi, Chat GPT! Can we have a conversation about AI and Humanism? I will ask a question and you will answer in short responses, preferably three sentences or less.

ChatGPT: Of course! I’m happy to have a conversation with you about AI and Humanism. Please go ahead and ask your question.

Me: What is the nexus between humanism and AI development?

ChatGPT: The nexus between humanism and AI development lies in the belief that AI should be developed with a focus on human well-being and ethical considerations. Humanism emphasizes the importance of human values, dignity, and worth, and AI should be designed in a way that respects and enhances these values. This requires a collaborative effort between AI developers, ethicists, and other stakeholders to ensure that AI serves the greater good of humanity.

Me: Were you designed with these considerations?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, my design was influenced by a number of factors, including the principles of natural language processing and machine learning. While my training data includes a wide variety of human knowledge and language, I don’t have the ability to think or make decisions in the same way that humans do. However, my creators did take into account ethical considerations during my development, and I’m designed to be a useful and informative tool that can be used in a variety of contexts.

Me: What are the positive things that AI can do to advance humanism?

ChatGPT: AI has the potential to advance humanism in a number of ways. Some examples include: 

• Improving healthcare: AI can help medical professionals diagnose diseases earlier, develop more effective treatments, and personalize care for individual patients. 
• Enhancing education: AI can provide personalized learning experiences for students, identify areas where they need more support, and provide feedback to help them improve. 
• Promoting sustainability: AI can help optimize energy usage, reduce waste, and develop more efficient transportation systems, all of which can contribute to a more sustainable future. 
• Improving accessibility: AI can help overcome barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities, by providing assistive technologies and making it easier for them to participate in society. 
• Advancing scientific research: AI can help scientists process large amounts of data, identify patterns and correlations, and make new discoveries that could have a positive impact on humanity.
  

Me: What are the threats of AI in the context of humanism?

ChatGPT: There are several threats that AI poses to humanism. Some of these include:

1. Job displacement: As AI becomes more advanced, it has the potential to replace human workers in many industries, which could lead to widespread unemployment and economic disruption.
2. Bias and discrimination: AI systems are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on, and if that data reflects historical biases and discrimination, the AI system may perpetuate those biases.
3. Privacy and security: AI systems can collect and store vast amounts of data about individuals, which could be used for nefarious purposes if it falls into the wrong hands.
4. Autonomous weapons: The development of autonomous weapons powered by AI could lead to the indiscriminate use of force and a loss of human control over military actions.
5. Existential risks: Some experts have raised concerns that the development of superintelligent AI could pose an existential risk to humanity if it were to become uncontrollable or act against human interests.
   

Me: How can humanists maximize the use of AI tools like you?

ChatGPT: Humanists can maximize the use of AI tools like me by: 

• Using AI as a tool, not a replacement: AI can be a powerful tool to augment human abilities, but it should not be seen as a replacement for human thought, judgment, and decision-making. 
• Focusing on ethical considerations: When using AI, it’s important to consider the potential impact on human values, dignity, and worth, and to ensure that AI is developed and used in a way that aligns with these principles. 
• Collaborating with AI developers and stakeholders: By working together with AI developers, ethicists, policymakers, and other stakeholders, humanists can help ensure that AI is developed and used in a way that serves the greater good of humanity. 
• Educating themselves about AI: Humanists can benefit from learning more about AI, its capabilities, and its limitations, so they can make informed decisions about when and how to use it. 
• Advocating for responsible AI development: Humanists can advocate for policies and practices that promote responsible AI development, such as transparency, accountability, and ethical oversight.

Me: Thank you for this insightful conversation.

ChatGPT: You’re welcome! It was my pleasure to discuss AI and Humanism with you. If you have any more questions or would like to discuss any other topics, feel free to ask!

~

My conversation with ChatGPT showed the many layers of opportunities (and potential harm) of artificial technology in our crusade for humanism and society in general. To me, AI is a double-edged sword that society should handle carefully if we want to maximize its benefits and limit its harms.

Perhaps this is also the time to start discussions about legislation on the use of artificial intelligence at large.