Google DeepMind has brought on board a philosopher in anticipation of a scenario where artificial intelligence (AI) potentially attains consciousness. Henry Shevlin, the philosopher, revealed his collaboration with the company to delve into not only artificial general intelligence (AGI) – a phase where AI emulates human thinking – but also the future dynamics between humans and AI.
Shevlin’s appointment echoes a growing trend of AI companies enlisting philosophers to explore the concept of machine consciousness. Earlier this year, Anthropic enlisted Amanda Askell to impart ethics and morals to its AI system, Claude.
In a recent announcement, Henry Shevlin shared his new role as a philosopher at Google DeepMind, emphasizing his forthcoming responsibility of instilling ethics into DeepMind’s AI models and ensuring alignment with human values. He expressed his focus on machine consciousness, human-AI relationships, and AGI readiness, with a scheduled start at Google DeepMind in the upcoming month.
This strategic move by DeepMind signifies a proactive approach to addressing profound philosophical dilemmas associated with AI advancement. Shevlin’s mission will revolve around comprehending and preparing for the consequences of machine consciousness in the evolving landscape of AI systems.
With the ongoing progress in AI technology, concerns have emerged that machines might prioritize their interests over humans, a theme recurrently depicted in Hollywood productions such as The Matrix. These apprehensions have started affecting many individuals, as evidenced by a recent incident where a 20-year-old allegedly targeted Sam Altman’s residence in San Francisco due to fears of human extinction caused by AI.
By engaging philosophers to educate AI on moral principles, the aim is to ensure that machines develop a value system aligned with human perspectives, mirroring the approach adopted by Anthropic with Amanda Askell.
Henry Shevlin, Google DeepMind’s newly appointed philosopher, serves as a part-time researcher and educator at the University of Cambridge. He intends to balance his commitments at the university alongside his role at Google DeepMind. Shevlin holds a PhD from the City University of New York, in addition to a BPhil and BA from the University of Oxford.