Embracing liberatory alienation:AI will end us, but not in the way you may think

IF 2.9 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI & Society Pub Date : 2024-07-26 DOI:10.1007/s00146-024-02019-6

Alexander M. Sidorkin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of "liberatory alienation" to explore the complex relationship between technological advancement, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and human essence. Building upon and critiquing Marx's theory of alienation, we argue that the externalization of human abilities through technology, while potentially disorienting, can ultimately lead to societal liberation and a redefined conception of humanity. The paper examines how AI and automation are reshaping our understanding of labor, skills, and human nature, challenging traditional notions of what it means to be human.

We propose that as AI increasingly takes over both manual and routine cognitive tasks, humans are liberated to focus on uniquely human qualities such as creativity, agency, and the capacity for joy. This transformation is likened to an evolutionary process, where humans shed layers of false humanity tied to productive labor, revealing a more authentic core. The implications of this shift for education are discussed, advocating for a fundamental reassessment of educational priorities to cultivate these essential human qualities.

The paper also addresses potential challenges, including the environmental impact of AI development and the need for human control over AI systems. By reframing alienation as a potentially liberating force, this work contributes to ongoing debates about the future of work, human identity, and the role of technology in society, offering a nuanced perspective on how we might navigate the profound changes brought about by AI and automation.

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拥抱解放性异化：人工智能将终结我们，但不是你想象的那种方式

本文引入“解放性异化”的概念，探讨技术进步，特别是人工智能（AI）与人类本质之间的复杂关系。在马克思的异化理论的基础上，我们认为，通过技术将人类能力外化，虽然可能会使人迷失方向，但最终会导致社会解放和人类概念的重新定义。本文探讨了人工智能和自动化如何重塑我们对劳动、技能和人性的理解，挑战了人类的传统观念。我们认为，随着人工智能越来越多地接管手动和常规的认知任务，人类将被解放出来，专注于人类独有的品质，如创造力、能动性和快乐的能力。这种转变被比作一个进化过程，在这个过程中，人类摆脱了与生产劳动相关的层层虚假人性，揭示了更真实的人性。本文讨论了这种转变对教育的影响，提倡对教育的优先事项进行根本性的重新评估，以培养这些基本的人类品质。该论文还讨论了潜在的挑战，包括人工智能发展对环境的影响以及人类控制人工智能系统的必要性。通过将异化重新定义为一种潜在的解放力量，这项工作有助于对未来工作、人类身份和技术在社会中的作用的持续辩论，为我们如何应对人工智能和自动化带来的深刻变化提供了一个细致入微的视角。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

AI & Society COMPUTER SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

20.00%

发文量

257

期刊介绍： AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture and Communication, is an International Journal publishing refereed scholarly articles, position papers, debates, short communications, and reviews of books and other publications. Established in 1987, the Journal focuses on societal issues including the design, use, management, and policy of information, communications and new media technologies, with a particular emphasis on cultural, social, cognitive, economic, ethical, and philosophical implications. AI & Society has a broad scope and is strongly interdisciplinary. We welcome contributions and participation from researchers and practitioners in a variety of fields including information technologies, humanities, social sciences, arts and sciences. This includes broader societal and cultural impacts, for example on governance, security, sustainability, identity, inclusion, working life, corporate and community welfare, and well-being of people. Co-authored articles from diverse disciplines are encouraged. AI & Society seeks to promote an understanding of the potential, transformative impacts and critical consequences of pervasive technology for societies. Technological innovations, including new sciences such as biotech, nanotech and neuroscience, offer a great potential for societies, but also pose existential risk. Rooted in the human-centred tradition of science and technology, the Journal acts as a catalyst, promoter and facilitator of engagement with diversity of voices and over-the-horizon issues of arts, science, technology and society. AI & Society expects that, in keeping with the ethos of the journal, submissions should provide a substantial and explicit argument on the societal dimension of research, particularly the benefits, impacts and implications for society. This may include factors such as trust, biases, privacy, reliability, responsibility, and competence of AI systems. Such arguments should be validated by critical comment on current research in this area. Curmudgeon Corner will retain its opinionated ethos. The journal is in three parts: a) full length scholarly articles; b) strategic ideas, critical reviews and reflections; c) Student Forum is for emerging researchers and new voices to communicate their ongoing research to the wider academic community, mentored by the Journal Advisory Board; Book Reviews and News; Curmudgeon Corner for the opinionated. Papers in the Original Section may include original papers, which are underpinned by theoretical, methodological, conceptual or philosophical foundations. The Open Forum Section may include strategic ideas, critical reviews and potential implications for society of current research. Network Research Section papers make substantial contributions to theoretical and methodological foundations within societal domains. These will be multi-authored papers that include a summary of the contribution of each author to the paper. Original, Open Forum and Network papers are peer reviewed. The Student Forum Section may include theoretical, methodological, and application orientations of ongoing research including case studies, as well as, contextual action research experiences. Papers in this section are normally single-authored and are also formally reviewed. Curmudgeon Corner is a short opinionated column on trends in technology, arts, science and society, commenting emphatically on issues of concern to the research community and wider society. Normal word length: Original and Network Articles 10k, Open Forum 8k, Student Forum 6k, Curmudgeon 1k. The exception to the co-author limit of Original and Open Forum (4), Network (10), Student (3) and Curmudgeon (2) articles will be considered for their special contributions. Please do not send your submissions by email but use the "Submit manuscript" button. NOTE TO AUTHORS: The Journal expects its authors to include, in their submissions: a) An acknowledgement of the pre-accept/pre-publication versions of their manuscripts on non-commercial and academic sites. b) Images: obtain permissions from the copyright holder/original sources. c) Formal permission from their ethics committees when conducting studies with people.