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  • Tech Companies Race to Manufacture Intelligence but Nobody Agrees on What Intelligence Is. Will They Create a Frankenstein?

    Big Tech is competing to create AGI, a machine intelligence that’s smarter than humans, but they differ on what intelligence is. We look at five of their definitions and recall the ongoing problems with AI sycophancy and self-preservation that point to a troubled future for AGI. Without controls to ensure such a powerful machine doesn’t wind up controlling us, we offer some suggestions – including applied philosophy – for a deeper appreciation of the potential for human intelligence.

  • What’s the Value of Time in the Digital Era? In the Long Run, Slowing Down and Being Bored Can Produce a Wealth of Benefits

    Belief that present value is greater than the future underpins the entire economic structure, but what if we reverse the assumption with faith that human ingenuity will drive future value that eclipses the present? History shows that the risk of underestimating the future can far outweigh the uncertainties of the present. The key to generating a better tomorrow may be the opposite of using AI to speed up today’s work. Instead, we could give ourselves a break to escape a repeating cycle and allow human creativity to work its magic in time.

  • Depriving Children of Digital Privacy is Theft and Abuse Often Masquerading as “Free Speech,” and Online Protection for Kids Falls Far Short of Ideal

    Privacy of thought is crucial for developing young minds but is under threat from AI influencing the thoughts and actions of children. Adults bear a fundamental responsibility to protect kids from online harms that include default conversation sharing for chatbot training and corporate policies allowing chatbots to engage in sexual and racist discussions with children. Impractical online age verification measures should be bolstered by severe penalties for stealing and abusing kids’ privacy, with no tolerance for irresponsible speech masquerading as “free.”

  • Privacy of Thought and Choice of Expression: Reflect on Their Value and Our Choice of Social Media Technology

    By any measure, commercial social media has not been a net benefit to the social fabric, and now it will be used by the U.S. government to track the thoughts and actions of foreign students. The current technology is not the only option available, however, and it’s worth a pause for some human reflection on the ways we could change social media to build community, protect our privacy of thought, and promote human creativity.

  • The Corruption of Four-Dimensional Humanity with Two-Dimensional Technology

    Words and images on two-dimensional screens can create a powerful fantasy world, but one that’s far removed from the complexity of four-dimensional human living. A social media broadcaster like the world’s wealthiest human can be oblivious to the effects on vulnerable adults and children from offers of million dollar payments to voters, “free speech,” and threats of termination targeting 2.3 million government workers. Social media’s catastrophic failure is that it doesn’t allow us to see when we’re being bad in the eyes of others.

  • US Constitution preamble

    An Urgent Appeal for Separation of Tech and State

    For the same principles and benefits that separation of church and state brought to democracies, the power of giant tech companies and their leaders must be kept separate from government. The power of the people, which is the constitutional goal of democracies whether it’s practised or not, deserves no less. Tech and state must disentangle, if the people are to have any hope of remaining technology’s masters. The alternative, if we cede control to our technological creations, is unconscionable.

The Quantum Record is a non-profit journal of philosophy, science, technology, and time. The potential of the future is in the human mind and heart, and in the common ground that we all share on the road to tomorrow. Promoting reflection, discussion, and imagination, The Quantum Record highlights the good work of good people and aims to join many perspectives in shaping the best possible time to come. We would love to stay in touch with you, and add your voice to the dialogue.

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