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Robot Souls: Programming in Humanity
Two of the biggest design problems in Artificial Intelligence are how to build robots that behave in line with human values and how to stop them ever going rogue. One under-explored solution to these alignment and control problems might be to examine how these are already addressed in the design of humans.
Looking closely at the human blueprint, it contains a suite of capacities that are so clumsy they have generally been kept away from AI. It was assumed that robots with features like emotions and intuition, that made mistakes and looked for meaning and purpose, would not work as well as robots without this kind of code. But on considering why all these irrational properties are there, it seems that they emerge from the source code of soul. Because it is actually this ‘junk’ code that makes us human and promotes the kind of reciprocal altruism that keeps humanity alive and thriving.
Robot Souls looks at developments in AI and reviews the emergence of ideas of consciousness and the soul. It places our ‘junk code’ in this context and argues that it is time to foreground that code, and to use it to look again at how we are programming AI.
The book author Eve Poole received an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to education and gender equality.
Looking closely at the human blueprint, it contains a suite of capacities that are so clumsy they have generally been kept away from AI. It was assumed that robots with features like emotions and intuition, that made mistakes and looked for meaning and purpose, would not work as well as robots without this kind of code. But on considering why all these irrational properties are there, it seems that they emerge from the source code of soul. Because it is actually this ‘junk’ code that makes us human and promotes the kind of reciprocal altruism that keeps humanity alive and thriving.
Robot Souls looks at developments in AI and reviews the emergence of ideas of consciousness and the soul. It places our ‘junk code’ in this context and argues that it is time to foreground that code, and to use it to look again at how we are programming AI.
The book author Eve Poole received an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to education and gender equality.
- GenresArtificial Intelligence
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 20, 2023
Can emotions, intuition, and storytelling make AI more human and safer?
In Robot Souls by Eve Poole, she explores this idea. Instead of trying to remove human quirks and imperfections from AI, Poole suggests we should deliberately add them in.
She calls things like emotions, intuition, storytelling, and even mistakes 'junk code,' and believes they're essential to the human soul. By integrating this 'junk code' into AI, she thinks we could address some of the safety issues in AI.
The book explores AI philosophy and ethics, delving into the history of consciousness and the soul in Western thought. It argues that the concept of a 'soul' remains relevant, highlighting its role in defining human uniqueness and promoting community and mutual assistance.
Strengths:
1. Easy-to-Understand Writing: Poole's writing style makes complex topics accessible to everyone. She uses relatable examples and humor to help readers engage with technology ethics.
2. Thought Experiment Approach: The book reads like a thought experiment, sparking creativity and imagination in exploring human dignity and flourishing.
3. Interdisciplinary Perspective: Poole draws on various fields, providing a well-rounded perspective that combines philosophy, science, and culture.
4. Critique of Bias: The book highlights biases in mainstream AI and questions what constitutes intelligence, promoting multiple ways of knowing.
5. Focus on Human Development: Poole emphasizes human thriving as a measure of progress, encouraging care and humility.
Critiques:
1. Speculative Nature: The book's speculative approach lacks systematic arguments and empirical evidence, making it more of a creative exploration than a practical guide.
2. Ontological Assumptions: Poole's metaphysical assumptions may not resonate with secular readers, and her essentialization of certain human qualities risks ignoring diversity.
3. Anthropocentrism: The book focuses heavily on human survival and doesn't fully explore non-human perspectives, despite advocating for reciprocity.
4. Gender Dynamics: Poole's association of rationality with masculinity perpetuates stereotypes.
5. Weak Policy Guidance: The book provides limited guidance on AI governance and doesn't offer concrete solutions.
Robot Souls offers valuable insights into the relationship between humans and AI. While it has some limitations, it contributes to important discussions about the future of technology and humanity.
In Robot Souls by Eve Poole, she explores this idea. Instead of trying to remove human quirks and imperfections from AI, Poole suggests we should deliberately add them in.
She calls things like emotions, intuition, storytelling, and even mistakes 'junk code,' and believes they're essential to the human soul. By integrating this 'junk code' into AI, she thinks we could address some of the safety issues in AI.
The book explores AI philosophy and ethics, delving into the history of consciousness and the soul in Western thought. It argues that the concept of a 'soul' remains relevant, highlighting its role in defining human uniqueness and promoting community and mutual assistance.
Strengths:
1. Easy-to-Understand Writing: Poole's writing style makes complex topics accessible to everyone. She uses relatable examples and humor to help readers engage with technology ethics.
2. Thought Experiment Approach: The book reads like a thought experiment, sparking creativity and imagination in exploring human dignity and flourishing.
3. Interdisciplinary Perspective: Poole draws on various fields, providing a well-rounded perspective that combines philosophy, science, and culture.
4. Critique of Bias: The book highlights biases in mainstream AI and questions what constitutes intelligence, promoting multiple ways of knowing.
5. Focus on Human Development: Poole emphasizes human thriving as a measure of progress, encouraging care and humility.
Critiques:
1. Speculative Nature: The book's speculative approach lacks systematic arguments and empirical evidence, making it more of a creative exploration than a practical guide.
2. Ontological Assumptions: Poole's metaphysical assumptions may not resonate with secular readers, and her essentialization of certain human qualities risks ignoring diversity.
3. Anthropocentrism: The book focuses heavily on human survival and doesn't fully explore non-human perspectives, despite advocating for reciprocity.
4. Gender Dynamics: Poole's association of rationality with masculinity perpetuates stereotypes.
5. Weak Policy Guidance: The book provides limited guidance on AI governance and doesn't offer concrete solutions.
Robot Souls offers valuable insights into the relationship between humans and AI. While it has some limitations, it contributes to important discussions about the future of technology and humanity.
January 18, 2025
This book was disappointing. As a researcher in AI I had high hopes for Eve Poole's outsider perspective. But this was a speed run through too many disconnected concepts. It's a short book that doesn't give itself time to approach anything in enough depth, and I was struggling to find a clear articulation of her "junk code" hypothesis anywhere in the text. There are also several outright incorrect statements about AI in the book - for instance her descriptions and references to techniques like Bayesian reasoning, RL, and genAI are not just acceptable simplifications for non-technical readers, but conceptually incorrect. She repeatedly perpetuates the misconceptions that AI is already excellent at representing the rational side of human cognition, and that the ultimate goal of AI development is to replicate a human that has superior intelligence to us.
October 18, 2023
I was sent this book by the author after writing about AI and it’s certainly not something I’d have chosen myself, but it’s very interesting. Part history, part sociology, philosophy, and science, it charts the evolution of robots and AI. What’s particularly good is that it’s not too couched in the now, more to make us think more clearly about what comes next.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews