AI, animals and us

It is now perhaps axiomatic to declare that artificial intelligence will revolutionize the world, as researchers and industry insiders are projecting the novel technology to become the greatest technological breakthrough in human history.

There has been a flurry of discussion in both our local and international contexts — and with good cause. We must remain steadfast to ensure our youth, local workforces, and environment are not negatively impacted by this burgeoning technology.

I wish to accentuate, however, a somewhat neglected area of public discussion around AI developments. Specifically, we urgently need to re-evaluate the ethos of humanity, particularly cognizant of the emergence of this digitally superintelligent species.

If artificial superintelligence (ASI) is ultimately achieved, leading academics theorize that these digital agents will be sentient, conscious, and astronomically more intelligent and powerful than us. In fact, numerous scholars believe AI to already possess some level of consciousness in its current iteration. This position is held by eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, for example.

AI is not merely some new tech gadget; it is the emergence of a new species. As incomprehensible as this may be, this is the actuality of our current trajectory.

It now seems fairly reasonable to concede that before the conclusion of this century, humanity will be usurped from the title of Earth’s ‘apex’ species. ASI will surpass humanity in nearly every domain that marks us uniquely special among Earth’s animals. These stark advancements should prompt us to urgently engage in contemplative introspection.

My argument is succinct: If AI is learning from us, we need to exemplify better ethical conduct as a species, particularly in how we treat animals and our ecosystems. As much as I share this sentiment with considerable angst, I genuinely pray that ASI treats us with greater compassion and dignity than we treat Earth’s other ‘lowly’ lifeforms.

Although these concerns may be preemptively dismissed as hyperbolic and sensationalist rhetoric, developments covered by the media over the past few weeks outline the grave seriousness of our situation.

The resignation of Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher for Anthropic, made international headlines for expressing his existential concern that there is a “greater than 10 per cent” possibility that AI will eradicate humanity before the end of the decade. In an act of solidarity, other AI researchers have stepped forward to publicly affirm this earnest fear, including Geoffrey Hinton — the Nobel laureate for digital neuron network research.

Responding to these whistleblowers’ warnings, the United Nations issued various public statements advocating for improved safeguards and greater international collaboration to ameliorate these dismal prospects. Other tech moguls — including Bill Gates and Elon Musk — have echoed these calls for greater international regulation and research stagnation.

Unfortunately, and albeit unsurprising, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed these fears as a ‘hoax’, as a conspiracy orchestrated by the Democrats, and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting unregulated AI research in his pursuit to beat China.

If the emergence of ASI is imminent, I subsequently pose this provocative question: as a species, are we the guardians or dominators of Planet Earth?

I have earnest hope in the former, but certainly more work needs to be done to attain such a prodigious title. In fact, our collective track record in treatments against wildlife, “livestock”, and ecosystems lamentably suggest otherwise.

The World Wildlife Foundation acknowledges that humanity has destroyed approximately 73 per cent wildlife over the past 50 years. Earth’s oceans are in a regressive state of decay as overfishing ravishes their vitality.

Animal rights are nearly invisible as we subject highly emotionally intelligent animals (including monkeys, dogs, and pigs) to deplorable experimentation and living conditions. The industry standards of factory farming — which I will spare readers from the explicit horrendous details — further brutalize billions of chickens, pigs, and cattle every year, routine practices that are hidden from public scrutiny.

And yet, we can achieve meaningful changes if we personally implement adaptations.

A landmark study at the University of Oxford led by professor Joseph Poole concluded that reducing and/or eliminating meat consumption was our “single greatest way” to fight climate change, as the inefficiencies of factory farming wreak tremendous damage on our vulnerable ecosystems.

As discomforting as these discussions may be, they are essential to improving the future outcomes for our species and planet. Before the dawn of ASI, now is the pivotal moment for humanity to renew its relationship with the natural world. Advocating for animal rights and their compassionate treatment is a worthwhile starting point.

Jordan Laidlaw is a vegan and holds a Ph.D. in educational administration.