The role of robotics and AI in technologically mediated human evolution: a constructive proposal

Abstract

This paper proposes that existing computational modeling research programs may be combined into platforms for the information of public policy. The main idea is that computational models at select levels of organization may be integrated in natural terms describing biological cognition, thereby normalizing a platform for predictive simulations able to account for both human and environmental costs associated with different action plans and institutional arrangements over short and long time spans while minimizing computational requirements. Building from established research programs, the proposal aims to take advantage of current momentum in the direction of the integration of the cognitive with social and natural sciences, reduce start-up costs and increase speed of development. These are all important upshots given rising unease over the potential for AI and related technologies to shape the world going forward.

Cognitive Social Simulation for Policy Making

“…An analysis of social issues based on some existing models of cognitive agents was proposed by White (in press). It was suggested that these models can help understand weighty social and political issues (such as those involved in international geopolitics), and they may lead to reasonable solutions of these consequential issues.…”

Autonomous reboot: Aristotle, autonomy and the ends of machine ethics

“…To engineer this condition into artificial agents is one aim of research into artificial agency, and it may also be the best way to understand human morality and moral theory at the same time, with successes in these efforts anticipated in related fields, for example, in advancing work in computational modeling of social agency and of psychologically realistic sociopolitical structures in effective practical policy making (c.f. Naveh and Sun 2006;Sun 2013Sun , 2020White 2016White , 2020Han et al 2019Han et al , 2020Pereira and Saptawijaya 2015;Pereira 2019). Yet, it is unclear how to engineer moral autonomy into artificial agents, not to mention what to do if we do.…”