Democracy and Artificial General Intelligence

Abstract

We may have to soon decide what kind of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) computers we will build and how they will coexist with humans. Many predictions estimate that artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence during this century. This poses a risk to humans: computers may cause harm to humans either intentionally or unintentionally. Here we outline a possible democratic society structure that will allow both humans and artificial general intelligence computers to participate peacefully in a common society.There is a potential for conflict between humans and AGIs. AGIs set their own goals which may or may not be compatible with the human society. In human societies conflicts can be avoided through negotiations: all humans have the about the same world view and there is an accepted set of human rights and a framework of international and national legislation. In the worst case, AGIs harm humans either intentionally or unintentionally, or they can deplete the human society of resources.So far, the discussion has been dominated by the view that the AGIs should contain fail-safe mechanisms which prevent conflicts with humans. However, even though this is a logical way of controlling AGIs we feel that the risks can also be handled by using the existing democratic structures in a way that will make it less appealing to AGIs (and humans) to create conflicts.The view of AGIs that we use in this article follows Kantian autonomy where a device sets goals for itself and has urges or drives like humans. These goals may conflict with other actors’ goals which leads to a competition for resources. The way of acting and reacting to other entities creates a personality which can differ from AGI to AGI. The personality may not be like a human personality but nevertheless, it is an individual way of behaviour.The Kantian view of autonomy can be criticized because it neglects the social aspect. The AGIs’ individual level of autonomy determines how strong is their society and how strongly integrated they would be with the human society. The critic of their Kantian autonomy is valid, and it is here that we wish to intervene.In Kantian tradition, conscious humans have free will which makes them morally responsible. Traditionally we think that computers, like animals lack free will or, perhaps, deep feelings. They do not share human values. They cannot express their internal world like humans. This affects the way that AGIs can be seen as moral actors. Often the problem of constraining AGIs has used a technical approach, placing different checks and designs that will reduce the likelihood of adverse behaviour towards humans. In this article we take another point of view. We will look at the way humans behave towards each other and try to find a way of using the same approaches with AGIs.