Editor-in-Chief: Samantha McCarthy

Email: smccarthy12@umassd.edu

With technology giants calling for the slowdown of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implementation across online platforms, it can feel like there’s a new development or large language model (LLM) every day.

To clarify some of these confusions and address doomsday mindsets regarding the rapid growth of AI, the psychology and philosophy department brought students and faculty together in the Charlton College of Business.

At this event, ‘AI, Apocalypse, and Alignment,’ student-led group discussions questioned and debated where ethics, morality, and other psychological and philosophical frameworks ought to be applied to AI, if any.

Spearheaded by Dr. Thomas Boone from the psychology department and Dr. Maureen Eckert from the philosophy department, students proposed important discussions and questions raised across disciplines as AI becomes more and more prevalent: Can AI be granted personhood? If AI reaches a point of surpassing human intelligence, do we owe it any kind of moral treatment? And, if granted this moral treatment, is it unethical to continue using AI as a tool?

As Eckert asked, “What does [this] entail for how we treat AI, how it treats us, and how we treat each other when AI is in the mix?”

This event in particular stands out amongst many. Students and faculty from all different colleges and departments rarely converse in this setting.

“There’s no discipline that can’t weigh in,” Boone said. Describing the importance of an event like this, he noted the “powerful” nature of AI being dropped into our educational experiences, recalling when he heard author Kurt Vonnegut, known for his dystopia and automation novel Player Piano, speak.

While questions surrounding AI and personhood may seem like science fiction, these technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Kat Amidon, a student in Eckert’s information and technology ethics course, led a discussion on these topics. Amidon recalled the once all-knowing Siri, observing how users used to thank the technology for answering questions.

Today, the dynamic is more complex: “AI companions” are being viewed as stand-ins for friends, spouses, and therapists. These AI chatbots mimic human interaction, yet people worldwide are doing much more than thanking them for homework help.

“[These actions] can classify something like this as something with moral and legal status… If we view [AI] as a person, is using it as a tool immoral?,” Amidon asked. Students disagreed with the initial premise that AI should be granted personhood, arguing that consciousness is required.

But what happens if AI becomes sentient or conscious?

Aiden Calheta, another student in Eckert’s class, introduced concepts of Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI. This hypothetical AI model surpasses human thought across cognitive processes, prompting philosophers and psychologists alike to consider its implications.

Calheta raised questions about this technology: If we have an all-knowledgeable entity, does it undermine our ability to make independent decisions? Can we control an entity that might surpass and control us?

Students in attendance pushed back, arguing that technological development of this kind would cross human boundaries and rights.

As the event attracted students moving to and from class, participants appreciated the opportunity to thoughtfully and honestly discuss their ideas.

“I love dialogue and discourse events like this, and this doesn’t happen too often on campus,” said Kennyel Cotto, a senior double majoring in philosophy and political science. Cotto noted the importance of holding the event in a non-humanities environment. “A lot of these students don’t think about ethics like we do in liberal arts, and a lot of people see AI as a second thought. [This allows us] to slow it down and think about the choices [we] make with AI,” he said.

Eckert described the engagement this event produced compared to traditional presentation-style discussions.

“…to increase faculty and student engagement on important topics is why we’re here. It’s a great way to try and get people involved in asking questions and seeing they’re not alone in their questions,” Eckert said.

In accordance with Eckert’s vision, the event featured questions, ideas, and opinions, leaving attendees with a new outlook on the state of AI and technology.

Kiyan Weiss, a student in Eckert’s class and Business Manager for The Torch, spoke at the event about how AI functions and how to define it, offering a mission statement for theopen forum.

“The next time you hear someone talking about how their AI did this, or their AI did that, I hope every time they say AI, you think to yourself, ‘artificial… intelligence…’ and it leaves you just a bit confused,” Weiss said.