Executive summary: This post introduces a comprehensive, uncertainty-aware guide to the emerging field of digital minds, arguing that because artificial systems might plausibly develop morally relevant mental states this century, systematic research, cautious policy, and broad engagement are urgently needed to avoid severe moral error while preparing for potentially transformative futures.
Key points:
The authors define “digital minds” as artificial systems that could morally matter due to possible conscious experience, suffering, or other morally relevant mental states, while emphasizing that current science cannot decisively determine whether present or near-future AIs have such states.
They cite expert surveys suggesting at least a 50% probability that AI systems with subjective experience could emerge by 2050, alongside widespread public uncertainty.
The post highlights two central moral risks: underattributing moral standing to deserving digital beings and overattributing it to morally irrelevant machines at the expense of human wellbeing.
The guide is structured to support different engagement levels, offering a Quickstart, Select Media, progressively deeper reading lists, and a glossary to lower entry barriers.
It maps a rapidly growing research landscape spanning philosophy of mind, cognitive science, AI welfare, policy, and empirical work on AI systems.
The authors conclude that studying digital minds may both avert large-scale moral catastrophe and advance understanding of human consciousness, framing the field as a historically significant scientific and ethical frontier.
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Executive summary: This post introduces a comprehensive, uncertainty-aware guide to the emerging field of digital minds, arguing that because artificial systems might plausibly develop morally relevant mental states this century, systematic research, cautious policy, and broad engagement are urgently needed to avoid severe moral error while preparing for potentially transformative futures.
Key points:
The authors define “digital minds” as artificial systems that could morally matter due to possible conscious experience, suffering, or other morally relevant mental states, while emphasizing that current science cannot decisively determine whether present or near-future AIs have such states.
They cite expert surveys suggesting at least a 50% probability that AI systems with subjective experience could emerge by 2050, alongside widespread public uncertainty.
The post highlights two central moral risks: underattributing moral standing to deserving digital beings and overattributing it to morally irrelevant machines at the expense of human wellbeing.
The guide is structured to support different engagement levels, offering a Quickstart, Select Media, progressively deeper reading lists, and a glossary to lower entry barriers.
It maps a rapidly growing research landscape spanning philosophy of mind, cognitive science, AI welfare, policy, and empirical work on AI systems.
The authors conclude that studying digital minds may both avert large-scale moral catastrophe and advance understanding of human consciousness, framing the field as a historically significant scientific and ethical frontier.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.