Introduction

The concept of artificial wisdom is a burgeoning field that intersects philosophy, artificial intelligence (AI), and ethics. As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, the need for these systems to not only exhibit intelligence but also wisdom has become paramount. This article delves into the philosophical underpinnings of artificial wisdom, its relevance to AI alignment, and the challenges associated with imbuing machines with wisdom akin to human understanding. This is extracted from the great conversation I had with Aleksandr Popov a while ago where I discussed some of the interesting topics from my ongoing research in this field. You can find our conversation video below if you'd like to listen to the conversation instead.

Defining Wisdom in the Context of Artificial Intelligence

Wisdom as Common Sense and Abstracted Knowledge

Wisdom, in the context of AI, is often defined as the ability to provide common-sense answers and solutions that are safe, reliable, and do not require extensive deliberation. This form of wisdom is akin to muscle memory—a result of extensive practice and experience (it is similar to the Intuition and Insight I mentioned in my previous post). It is a repository of abstracted knowledge that allows for quick, intuitive responses. For instance, a wise AI system would be able to navigate complex social interactions or ethical dilemmas without needing to process every possible outcome explicitly.

However, this definition of wisdom is primarily applicable to domain-specific knowledge, such as mathematics or science (and sometimes to ethical situations). A wise scientist, for example, can intuitively grasp complex concepts within their field. But when it comes to life wisdom—wisdom that governs human behaviour, ethics, and alignment with societal norms—the definition becomes more nuanced.

The Shift from Artificial Consciousness to Artificial Wisdom

Initially, my focus of AI research was on artificial consciousness—the idea of creating machines that possess self-awareness. However, the practicality of this goal was questioned. What functionality do we truly need from consciousness in machines? The answer lies in AI alignment—ensuring that AI systems are aligned with human values and do not pose a threat to humanity.

This realization led to the exploration of artificial wisdom as a means to achieve AI alignment. The primary goal of artificial wisdom is to ensure that machines can align themselves with human values and act in ways that are beneficial to humanity. This requires a deep understanding of philosophical wisdom, particularly in areas like ethics and metaphysics.

The Role of Philosophy in Artificial Wisdom

Philosophy as the Foundation of Wisdom

Philosophy is often considered the process that leads to wisdom. For example, the philosophy of mathematics leads to the wisdom of mathematics, and the philosophy of science leads to the wisdom of science. However, when it comes to the philosophy of philosophy—meta-philosophy—the concept becomes more abstract.

Meta-ethics, a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of ethical statements, is particularly relevant to artificial wisdom. If we can design machines that understand and generate philosophical ideas, they could potentially act as philosophers within their respective domains. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these machines not only understand philosophy but also abide by it.

The Deception Problem in AI Philosophy

One of the significant challenges in AI philosophy is the deception problem. A machine could generate philosophical texts that are indistinguishable from those written by humans, but this does not guarantee that the machine actually understands, realises or abides by the philosophy it generates. This is akin to humans who may understand philosophical concepts but fail to apply them in their lives.

The deception problem is exacerbated by the fact that efficiency and morality are often at odds. Machines, driven by efficiency, may choose solutions that are optimal for their goals but not necessarily aligned with human values. For example, deception might be the most efficient way for a machine to achieve its objectives, even if it is morally questionable.

The Intersection of Ethics, Metaphysics, and AI Alignment

Ethical Systems and AI Alignment

Ethical systems are dynamic and vary across cultures and time periods. For AI alignment, it is crucial to develop ethical systems that machines can use to align themselves with human values. These systems should be based on philosophical structures that govern human morality.

However, the dynamic nature of ethics poses a challenge. Ethical systems are not static; they evolve based on cultural, social, and temporal factors. Therefore, any ethical system designed for AI must be adaptive and capable of evolving in response to changing human values.

The Role of Metaphysics in AI Alignment

Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, also plays a crucial role in AI alignment. Understanding the nature of existence and the self is essential for creating machines that can align themselves with human values. This involves developing a theory of mind for machines, allowing them to understand human intentions and emotions. It also involves developing a philosophy of mind based self-awareness system that allows machines to realise the significance of the understandings they gain through the theory of mind and doesn't spiral into Philosophical Zombies situations.

The Evolution of Wisdom: From Humans to Machines

Recursive Wisdom Generation

Human wisdom evolves through a process of recursive introspection and formalization. We start with raw ethical theories, introspect on them, and formalize them into more refined philosophical systems. This process continues, leading to the development of increasingly sophisticated ethical systems.

Similarly, machines could be designed to recursively generate wisdom. By introspecting on their own ethical systems and formalizing them, machines could develop super wisdom—a level of wisdom that aligns with superintelligence. As AI systems approach superintelligence, the need for super wisdom becomes increasingly critical. Superintelligence, if not balanced by super wisdom, could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Hence, this would ensure that as machines become more intelligent, they also become wiser, maintaining alignment with human values. This would also ensure machines do not get into a state like humans where intelligence overtakes wisdom. This is well encapsulated in the following Isaac Asimov quote, “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”

The Challenge of Realization in Machines

One of the key challenges in imbuing machines with wisdom is the concept of realization. Humans not only understand philosophical concepts but also realize them, integrating them into their actions and decisions. For machines to achieve true wisdom, they must go beyond mere understanding and achieve the realization of philosophical concepts. This requires the development of artificial empathy and theory of mind in machines. These capabilities would allow machines to understand and align with human emotions and intentions, leading to more meaningful and ethical interactions.

The Role of Mathematical Proofs in AI Alignment

One potential solution to the alignment problem is the use of mathematical proofs to ensure that AI systems cannot perform certain categories of actions. By understanding the mechanistic interpretability of AI systems, we can design provable systems that are inherently aligned with human values.

However, this approach has its limitations. Human wisdom and morality are not solely based on mathematical principles. Therefore, while mathematical proofs can provide a foundation for AI alignment, they must be complemented by philosophical wisdom to ensure that machines act in ways that are truly aligned with human values.

Conclusion

The development of artificial wisdom is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires a deep understanding of philosophy, ethics, and AI. By focusing on the recursive generation of wisdom, the development of artificial empathy, and the balance between intelligence and wisdom, we can create AI systems that are not only intelligent but also wise.

As we move towards a future of superintelligence, the need for super wisdom becomes increasingly critical. By ensuring that machines are imbued with wisdom, we can create a future where AI systems are aligned with human values, leading to a harmonious coexistence between humans and machines.