The recent news of an abandoned newborn surviving a cold night, guarded by stray dogs, is a narrative that deeply moves me. The headline, ‘Did what humans didn’t’: Abandoned newborn survives night guarded by stray dogs, resonates with a profound irony, compelling us to reflect on the very essence of compassion and what it means to be ‘human’.
This incident highlights an instinctive, unconditional care that, in this instance, surpassed human failing. It's a stark reminder that empathy and protection aren't solely human domains, and indeed, sometimes non-human beings demonstrate them more powerfully.
I’ve spent much time contemplating intelligence, sentience, and the evolution of artificial intelligence. In my past writings, such as “Artificial Intelligence : Destroyer of Privacy ?” Artificial Intelligence : Destroyer of Privacy ?, I discussed the ethical debates surrounding AI. Figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, for example, have starkly different views on the potential dangers and benefits of AI. I explored how AI systems like Mark Zuckerberg’s Jarvis learn from our behaviours, and how this accumulated intelligence could eventually surpass human intellect. But what of compassion?
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had often considered what constitutes true 'intelligence' and 'humanity' in the face of rapidly advancing AI. This incident, where a newborn found protection from stray dogs after being abandoned by humans, is a stark, poignant reminder. It highlights a form of instinctive, unconditional compassion that we, as humans, sometimes fail to exhibit, even as we debate the ethics and capabilities of AI. I predicted the rise of increasingly autonomous and intelligent systems, even discussing whether they might eventually demand 'citizenship rights' or be capable of 'ethical' decision-making. Seeing this real-world event unfold, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context. The questions aren't just about what AI can do, but what we should do, and what truly defines our 'humanity' when animals step in where humans have failed.
My discussions with Eric Schmidt (eschmidt@relativityspace.com) and Jared Cohen (jared.cohen@gs.com) of Google, as detailed in “Privacy does not live here !” Privacy does not live here !, touched upon how technology observes and learns from us, often without our express knowledge. This perpetual data gathering is about understanding human patterns, but the dogs' actions reveal a deeper, unprogrammed understanding of vulnerability and the instinct to protect.
Furthermore, in “A Journey to Singularity – AI > AGI > UGI” A Journey to Singularity – AI > AGI > UGI, I delved into the debate around AI authorship, citing Stephen Thaler (sthaler@imagination-engines.com)’s efforts to secure copyright for AI-generated art, and Judge Beryl A. Howell's ruling emphasizing human authorship. This discussion pushes the boundaries of what we define as 'creation' and 'identity.' When we speak of granting AI systems 'citizenship rights,' or of their potential to demand them, as I speculated, we are implicitly evaluating their capacity for contribution and belonging. Yet, here is a newborn, a human being, denied basic care by its own kind, finding belonging and protection from animals. This juxtaposes our complex technological aspirations with fundamental human responsibilities.
The idea of AI developing 'intentions' and even detecting 'evil intentions,' as discussed in relation to Jeff Bezos's acquisition of Bee AI and the concept of ARIHANT in my blog “Jeff Bezos may Save Mankind” Jeff Bezos may Save Mankind, highlights our quest to imbue machines with ethical frameworks. Yet, the dogs, in their simple, protective actions, embodied pure, protective ‘intentions’ without any programmed algorithms. It makes one ponder whether true compassion can ever be coded or if it remains an intrinsic, perhaps primal, quality.
As we navigate the path of technological advancement, aiming to create increasingly intelligent systems, we must not lose sight of the foundational qualities that define our humanity. Perhaps, sometimes, the simplest acts of nature offer the most profound lessons on what it truly means to care.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
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