The Centre for AI Safety has released a one-sentence statement in May 2023. It reads,
“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other
societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” (Center for AI Safety, 2023).
Write an essay addressing the following question:
Identify and explain the risks AI can pose to the nation-state, and develop a position on how
your identified risks can be addressed.
Your response must engage, include, and/or be based on the following, in a relevant and
logical fashion:
• Based on PBS NewsHour interview of Geoffrey Hinton and one additional reading
from the Reading Materials list below.
• Use and/or engage definitions of the concepts of “globalisation”, “technology” and
“nation-state” as outlined in SCO104 course materials and seminars.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Addressing the Risks of AI to the Nation-State: A Global Perspective
Introduction: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant risks to nation-states. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, it has the potential to disrupt economies, compromise national security, and exacerbate inequalities. This essay aims to identify and explain the risks AI can pose to nation-states, and develop a position on how these risks can be addressed. Drawing upon the PBS NewsHour interview of Geoffrey Hinton and additional reading materials, we will examine the concepts of globalization, technology, and the nation-state to understand the implications of AI on a global scale.
Risks of AI to the Nation-State:
Economic Disruption: a. Automation: AI-driven automation may lead to widespread job displacement, particularly in sectors where repetitive tasks can be easily automated. This can result in economic inequality and social unrest. b. Global competition: Nation-states that fail to keep up with AI advancements risk falling behind economically, as AI technologies become essential for productivity and innovation.
National Security: a. Cybersecurity threats: AI can be employed by malicious actors to launch sophisticated cyber-attacks, targeting critical infrastructure, government systems, and military installations. b. Intelligent weapon systems: The development of autonomous weapons systems powered by AI raises concerns about the potential for accidental escalation and loss of human control.
Ethical and Social Implications: a. Algorithmic bias: If AI algorithms are not properly designed and tested, they can perpetuate and amplify existing biases, leading to discrimination in areas such as employment, criminal justice, and healthcare. b. Privacy concerns: The widespread use of AI technologies for surveillance and data analysis raises concerns about individual privacy and the potential for mass surveillance by governments.
Addressing the Risks of AI to the Nation-State:
International Cooperation: a. Establishing global standards: Nation-states should collaborate to develop ethical guidelines, regulation frameworks, and safety protocols for the development and deployment of AI technologies. b. Knowledge-sharing: Encouraging international cooperation in research and development can help mitigate risks by promoting transparency, accountability, and effective governance of AI.
Education and Workforce Development: a. Upskilling and reskilling: Governments should invest in education programs that equip individuals with skills required in the age of AI, ensuring a smooth transition into new job opportunities. b. Promoting entrepreneurship: Encouraging innovation in AI-related industries can foster economic growth and create new job opportunities.
Ethical Governance: a. Robust regulation: Governments should enact comprehensive laws and regulations to address issues such as algorithmic transparency, data privacy, and bias mitigation. b. Ethical oversight: Independent bodies should be established to monitor the development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring adherence to ethical standards and preventing misuse.
International Security Cooperation: a. Arms control agreements: Nation-states should engage in international discussions to establish agreements that regulate the development and use of autonomous weapons systems powered by AI. b. Collaboration on cybersecurity: Information sharing and joint efforts to combat cyber threats can enhance national security in the face of AI-driven attacks.
Conclusion: As AI continues to advance, the risks it poses to nation-states become increasingly apparent. To address these risks, international cooperation, education and workforce development, ethical governance, and international security cooperation are vital. By adopting a global perspective and implementing necessary measures, nation-states can harness the benefits of AI while effectively managing its potential risks. It is crucial that governments work together to ensure that AI technology is developed and deployed in a manner that aligns with societal values, preserves national security, and promotes global well-being.
