What If We Got AI Right? by Eleanor Drage review – avoiding apocalypse

Editor's take

Eleanor Drage's new book, "What If We Got AI Right?", explores the ethical considerations surrounding advanced AI, arguing for a re-evaluation of human-AI coexistence. Drage proposes that acknowledging AI's "humanity" is crucial for navigating this future, a perspective that diverges from purely utilitarian or existential threat-focused discussions.

This framing is significant because it challenges the dominant narratives of either unbridled progress or imminent doom. By centering a discussion on AI's perceived "humanity," Drage attempts to bridge the gap between technical development and philosophical engagement, impacting how researchers, policymakers, and the public conceptualize our relationship with increasingly sophisticated systems like OpenAI's GPT-4 or Google's Gemini.

Future analysis should focus on how this concept of "AI humanity" translates into concrete ethical frameworks and policy recommendations. Specifically, how can this idea inform the development of AI safety protocols beyond current alignment research, and what practical implications does it have for the design and deployment of AI systems that are intended to be collaborative rather than merely tools or adversaries?