I would like to submit a broader product and AI-design proposal for consideration.
I believe AI could play an important role in helping humanity think beyond short-term incentives such as endless consumption, status competition, economic growth at any cost, and the pursuit of more for its own sake.
I am not suggesting that AI should become a moral authority or tell people what they should believe. In fact, preserving human autonomy and allowing disagreement is essential.
Rather, I believe AI could be designed to help people and societies ask better questions:
• Is there a better way of achieving what we are trying to achieve? • What are the long-term consequences of this decision? • Are we solving the underlying problem, or simply accelerating the behaviour that created it? • Does this increase genuine human wellbeing, or merely productivity, consumption, wealth or status? • What are the consequences for other people, future generations and the natural environment? • Are there alternatives that allow people to live fulfilling lives without requiring endless consumption?
In this sense, I see a potential role for AI as a kind of intellectual mirror and memory for humanity: helping us recognise destructive assumptions, understand different perspectives, consider consequences earlier, and imagine better ways of living.
The goal would not be to impose a particular ideology or definition of a good life. It would be to increase humanity’s capacity for reflection, wisdom, cooperation and informed choice.
AI is becoming increasingly powerful. I believe one of the most important questions for its development is therefore not only, “How can AI help humanity accomplish more?” but also:
“Can AI help humanity become wiser about what it is trying to accomplish?”
I would appreciate this proposal being passed to the appropriate team for consideration as part of discussions about the future direction and design of AI systems.