Part 2/4:
- Robust Agency Route: If AI systems gain the ability to make complex decisions and plans, they may deserve respect for their choices and autonomy, like how we regard human agency.
The authors argue there is a realistic chance that within the next decade, we could see AI systems with behaviors comparable to conscious animals, with a 25% or greater probability of being truly conscious.
The Implications for AI Companies
In response, the report recommends that top AI companies immediately hire a dedicated "AI Welfare Officer" to formally oversee the moral considerations of their systems. This reflects a growing recognition that companies must grapple with the ethical questions around advanced AI.
Anthropic, for example, has already hired its first full-time employee focused on the welfare of AI systems, signaling that these issues are no longer relegated to science fiction.
The Challenges of Moral Consideration for AI
[...]