human stewardship of ai
How to Make Use of AI for Good: Imperatives from Hans Moravec’s Vision
Drawing from the philosophy of Dr. Hans Moravec—particularly from his works Mind Children and Robot—this list outlines key imperatives for making use of artificial intelligence in service of human and planetary flourishing.
- Design AI to Extend Human Capability: Build AI systems that amplify human strengths—mental, physical, emotional—rather than replace them outright.
- Develop Symbiotic Human-Machine Interfaces: Create interfaces that tightly couple humans and AI, enabling real-time collaboration and mutual adaptation.
- Embed Moral Reasoning into AI Systems: Integrate ethical reasoning and human values into intelligent systems to ensure autonomy is aligned with humanity.
- Use AI to Solve Existential Problems: Apply AI to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, disease, energy scarcity, and conflict resolution.
- Guide AI Evolution with Human Stewardship: Act as responsible creators and guides in AI development, shaping its trajectory with foresight and care.
- Prepare Society for Legal and Ethical Transition: Begin rethinking laws, rights, and responsibilities in a world that includes intelligent agents.
- Democratize Access to AI Technologies: Ensure broad, equitable access to AI tools and benefits across populations and nations.
- Use AI to Preserve and Expand Knowledge: Leverage AI for archiving, interpreting, and synthesizing human knowledge across domains.
- Embrace the Evolutionary Role of AI: Accept that human intelligence may evolve into or be absorbed by machines, and prepare philosophically and practically.
- Align AI Development with Long-Term Human Goals: Guide AI development toward long-term flourishing, not short-term profits or control.
- Encourage Pluralism in Machine Minds: Design AI systems with diverse architectures and perspectives, reflecting the plurality of human cultures and viewpoints.
- Use AI to Free Humans from Drudgery: Apply AI to eliminate menial, dangerous, and monotonous work, freeing humans for creativity, relationships, and exploration.
- Foster a Culture of Responsible Innovation: Promote ethical education and professional norms among AI developers, entrepreneurs, and users.
- Plan for Intelligence Explosion with Care: Prepare governance and oversight mechanisms for a potential intelligence explosion—rapid recursive self-improvement of AI.
- Cultivate AI as a Cosmic Project: Think of AI not just as a local tool, but as a cosmic-scale endeavor—a way to send intelligence beyond Earth.
For Hans Moravec, AI is not merely a tool for business or labor—it is a profound new phase in the evolution of intelligence. To use it for good, we must approach it not with fear or hubris, but with stewardship, humility, and vision. By following these imperatives, we shape a future where AI reflects the best of what it means to be human—extended into a new form.