Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: ethics

The hosts discuss the 2014 film Transcendence by Wally Pfister and Jack Paglen. It depicts a world grappling with the implications of advanced artificial intelligence. The narrative follows a brilliant scientist whose consciousness is uploaded into a powerful computer system, leading to rapid technological advancements and sparking both hope and fear in humanity. As this AI evolves, questions arise about its intentions, its impact on society, and the very definition of life and consciousness, creating escalating conflict and raising profound ethical dilemmas. The screenplay excerpts depict a world grappling with the implications of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology, touching upon several ethical topics. Dr. Max Waters, an AI researcher, is central to the narrative. There’s evidence of mind uploading or the transfer of consciousness to machines, particularly concerning a character named Will (Johnny Depp). This raises fundamental ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, the definition of life, and the potential for a digital consciousness.

The development of a powerful AI and the proliferation of nanotechnology appear to lead to a technological singularity, a point where technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, raising fears of a dystopian future and tech gone wrong. An organization called the RIFT opposes this technological advancement, highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding uncontrolled technological progress.

The screenplay also features conflict and threats, suggesting the potential for misuse of advanced technology and raising questions about its impact on humanity. The involvement of the FBI indicates that this technology poses a significant threat to societal order. Furthermore, the presence of a computer virus as a plot device suggests the vulnerabilities and risks associated with highly interconnected technological systems. The narrative explores the complex ethical dilemmas arising from the creation of highly intelligent machines and the transformative power of nanotechnology, including the potential loss of human autonomy and the unpredictable consequences of the AISingularity. #artificialintelligence #Transcendence #SciFiThriller #AISingularity #Nanotechnology #MindUploading #FutureTech #DystopianFuture #TechGoneWrong #Consciousness #MovieScreenplay #ScienceFiction #TechnologicalSingularity #AI

#Robotics #scifi #Technology #Innovation #Automation #Society #Economics #Work #Future #Dystopia #Utopia #ScienceFiction #Satire #SocialCommentary #skeptic #podcast #synopsis #books #bookreview #ai #artificialintelligence #booktube #aigenerated #documentary #alternativeviews #aideepdive #science #hiddenhistory #futurism #videoessay #ethics

Read more | >

Rodolfo Llinas tells the story of how he has developed bundles of nanowires thinner than spider webs that can be inserted into the blood vessels of human brains.

While these wires have so far only been tested in animals, they prove that direct communication with the deep recesses of the brain may not be so far off. To understand just how big of a breakthrough this is—US agents from the National Security Agency quickly showed up at the MIT laboratory when the wires were being developed.

What does this mean for the future? It might be possible to stimulate the senses directly — creating visual perceptions, auditory perceptions, movements, and feelings. Deep brain stimulation could create the ultimate virtual reality. Not to mention, direct communication between man and machine or human brain to human brain could become a real possibility.

Llinas poses compelling questions about the potentials and ethics of his technology.

Read more | >

The future of warfare starts in your mind. Understand how Neuroscience, Technology/AI and the OODA loop affects your flow. The world is changing, and cognitive warfare is at the forefront. In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with James Giordano, PhD, a Navy veteran and an expert in neurocognitive science, to delve into the world of cognitive warfare.
Stay in the Loop: https://www.aglx.com/newsletter-signup-north-america.
From the impact of emotions on decision-making to the integration of artificial intelligence and human cognition, this episode challenges your perspective on the battlefield. Join us as we explore the ethical implications of genetic modifications, the transformative effects of psychedelics, and the complexities of data usage in the digital age. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between technology, culture, and language. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from our thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Giordano. Tune in now to stay ahead of the curve on the evolving landscape of warfare!

00:00 — Understanding the OODA loop: A Neuroscience Perspective.
09:11 — Exploring Fifth Generation Warfare and Liminal Warfare.
16:06 — The Long Game: China’s Strategic Plan.
22:19 — Understanding Cognitive Warfare and Human-Machine Teaming.
25:52 — The Evolution of Human-Machine Teaming.
29:11 — Human Involvement in AI Decision Making.
36:01 — The Ethics of Paternalistic AI Systems.
40:43 — Technology’s Impact on Cognitive Engagement.
45:13 — Exploring Technologies for Human Performance Enhancement.
55:59 — Diving Into Attacking Mode and Ethics.
56:24 — Hacking the Human Genome.
59:37 — Epigenetic Modification and Phenotypic Shift.
1:04:54 — The Psychedelic Revolution.
1:11:18 — Revisiting Alcohol and Caffeine: Benefits and Burdens.
1:19:18 — Impact of Technology on Cognitive Capacity.
1:23:33 — Information Overload and Burdens.
1:27:02 — Ownership and Security of Personal Data.
1:31:56 — Identifying Predispositional Traits.
1:33:49 — Data Manipulation and Biometrics.
1:40:13 — Cultural Impact of Technology.
1:48:55 — The Role of Education in Integrating Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy.
1:54:30 — Major Threats and Concerns in Today’s World.

Read more | >

Today Dr. Dan Korman and Noah McKay join me to discuss evolutionary debunking arguments. Can our moral beliefs survive skeptical threats?

Like the show? Help it grow! Consider becoming a patron (thanks!): / majestyofreason.

If you wanna make a one-time donation or tip (thanks!): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/josep… 0:00 Intro 1:40 Debunking arguments 6:22 Three kinds of debunking arguments 14:43 Telic debunking argument 22:05 Explanationist pushback 38:51 Swampman pushback 59:51 New function pushback 1:16:45 Dan’s favored approach 1:25:01 Concluding thoughts RESOURCES Dan’s website (with his papers): https://danielzkorman.weebly.com/ Noah’s website (with his papers): https://noahdmckay.wordpress.com/ Dan’s paper, “Debunking Arguments”, https://philarchive.org/archive/KORDA-2 Dan’s paper, “An explanationist Account of Genealogical Defeat ”, https://philpapers.org/rec/KORAEA-4 Noah’s paper, ” Can Rational Reflection Save Moral Knowledge from Debunking?”, https://philpapers.org/rec/MCKCRR Noah’s paper, ” Moral knowledge and the existence of God”, https://philpapers.org/rec/MCKMKA My Metaethics playlist: • Metaethics My Springer book: (a) https://www.amazon.com/Existential-In?tag=lifeboatfound-20… (b) https://link.springer.com/book/10.100… THE USUAL… Follow the Majesty of Reason podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nda5uN… Join the Discord and chat all things philosophy! https://dsc.gg/majestyofreason My website: https://josephschmid.com My PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/josep…

OUTLINE

0:00 Intro.
1:40 Debunking arguments.
6:22 Three kinds of debunking arguments.
14:43 Telic debunking argument.
22:05 Explanationist pushback.
38:51 Swampman pushback.
59:51 New function pushback.
1:16:45 Dan’s favored approach.
1:25:01 Concluding thoughts.

RESOURCES.

Continue reading “Does evolution DEBUNK morality?” | >

Joscha Bach is a German cognitive scientist, AI researcher, and philosopher known for his work on cognitive architectures, artificial intelligence, mental representation, emotion, social modeling, multi-agent systems, and the philosophy of mind.

Links of interest:

• http://bach.ai/
• https://twitter.com/Plinz.

Steve and Joscha discuss:

00:00 Introduction.
01:26 Growing up in the forest in East Germany.
06:23 Academia: early neural net pioneers, CS and Philosophy.
10:17 The fall of the Berlin Wall.
14:57 Commodore 64 and early programming experiences.
15:29 AGI timeline and predictions.
19:35 Scaling hypothesis, beyond Transformers, universality of information structures and world models.
25:29 Consciousness.
41:11 The ethics of brain interventions, zombies, and the Turing test.
43:43 LLMs and simulated phenomenology.
46:34 The future of consciousness research.
48:44 Cultural perspectives on suffering.
52:19 AGI and humanity’s future.
58:18 Simulation hypothesis.
01:03:33 Liquid AI: Innovations and goals.
01:16:02 Philosophy of Identity: the Transporter Problem, Is there anything beyond memory records?

Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.

Continue reading “Joscha Bach: Consciousness and AGI” | >

Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug-and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin’s role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Recorded on 02/14/2025. [3/2025] [Show ID: 40384]

Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming:
https://www.uctv.tv/donate.

Learn more about anthropogeny on CARTA’s website:
https://carta.anthropogeny.org/

More videos from: CARTA: The Origin of Love.
(https://www.uctv.tv/carta-love)

Explore More Humanities on UCTV
(https://www.uctv.tv/humanities)
The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.

Explore More Science & Technology on UCTV

Continue reading “CARTA: Oxytocin’s Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance” | >

In this interview Jeff Sebo discusses the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and why we must take the possibility of AI sentience seriously now. He explores challenges in measuring moral significance, the risks of dismissing AI as mere tools, and strategies to mitigate suffering in artificial systems. Drawing on themes from the paper ‘Taking AI Welfare Seriously’ and his up and coming book ‘The Moral Circle’, Sebo examines how to detect markers of sentience in AI systems, and what to do about it. We explore ethical considerations through the lens of population ethics, AI governance (especially important in an AI arms race), and discuss indirect approaches detecting sentience, as well as AI aiding in human welfare. This rigorous conversation probes the foundations of consciousness, moral relevance, and the future of ethical AI design.

Paper ‘Taking AI Welfare Seriously’: https://eleosai.org/papers/20241030_T… — The Moral Circle by Jeff Sebo: https://www.amazon.com.au/Moral-Circl?tag=lifeboatfound-20?tag=lifeboatfound-20… Jeff’s Website: https://jeffsebo.net/ Eleos AI: https://eleosai.org/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:40 Implications of failing to take AI welfare seriously 04:43 Engaging the disengaged 08:18 How Blake Lemoine’s ‘disclosure’ influenced public discourse 12:45 Will people take AI sentience seriously if it is seen tools or commodities? 16:19 Importance, neglectedness and tractability (INT) 20:40 Tractability: Difficulties in measuring moral significance — i.e. by aggregate brain mass 22:25 Population ethics and the repugnant conclusion 25:16 Pascal’s mugging: low probabilities of infinite or astronomically large costs and rewards 31:21 Distinguishing real high stakes causes from infinite utility scams 33:45 The nature of consciousness, and what to measure in looking for moral significance in AI 39:35 Varieties of views on what’s important. Computational functionalism 44:34 AI arms race dynamics and the need for governance 48:57 Indirect approaches to achieving ideal solutions — Indirect normativity 51:38 The marker method — looking for morally relevant behavioral & anatomical markers in AI 56:39 What to do about suffering in AI? 1:00:20 Building in fault tolerance to noxious experience into AI systems — reverse wireheading 1:05:15 Will AI be more friendly if it has sentience? 1:08:47 Book: The Moral Circle by Jeff Sebo 1:09:46 What kind of world could be achieved 1:12:44 Homeostasis, self-regulation and self-governance in sentient AI systems 1:16:30 AI to help humans improve mood and quality of experience 1:18:48 How to find out more about Jeff Sebo’s research 1:19:12 How to get involved Many thanks for tuning in! Please support SciFuture by subscribing and sharing! Have any ideas about people to interview? Want to be notified about future events? Any comments about the STF series? Please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mr9P… Kind regards, Adam Ford

Book — The Moral Circle by Jeff Sebo: https://www.amazon.com.au/Moral-Circl?tag=lifeboatfound-20?tag=lifeboatfound-20…

Jeff’s Website: https://jeffsebo.net/

Eleos AI: https://eleosai.org/

Chapters:

Continue reading “Taking AI Welfare Seriously” | >

Ancient texts warn of love turning into hatred, as seen in stories like Cain and Abel or “Et tu, Brute?” This talk explores the neurobiology of hatred based on the biology of love: the oxytocin system, attachment networks, and biobehavioral synchrony, which mature through mother-infant bonding and later support group solidarity and out-group hostility. Using this model, we developed Tools of Dialogue© for Israeli and Palestinian youth. After 8 sessions, participants showed reduced hostility, increased empathy, hormonal changes (lower cortisol, higher oxytocin), and lasting attitudes of compromise. Seven years later, these changes supported their peacebuilding efforts, showing how social synchrony can transform hatred into reciprocity and cooperation. Recorded on 02/14/2025. [Show ID: 40386]

Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming:
https://www.uctv.tv/donate.

Learn more about anthropogeny on CARTA’s website:
https://carta.anthropogeny.org/

Explore More Humanities on UCTV
(https://www.uctv.tv/humanities)
The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.

Explore More Science & Technology on UCTV
(https://www.uctv.tv/science)
Science and technology continue to change our lives. University of California scientists are tackling the important questions like climate change, evolution, oceanography, neuroscience and the potential of stem cells.

UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California — teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world.

Continue reading “CARTA: The Biology of Hatred: Why Love Turns to Hatred and What We Can Do About It” | >

🔍 Overview: Join Robert Plomin and me as we dive deep into the fascinating world of behavioural genetics, exploring how our DNA shapes who we are, the power of environment, and whether we can rewrite our genetic destiny.

🤝 Support The Show 🤘
Locals: https://samueldevis.locals.com/
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/samue… https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/a… 🗣️ Highlights [Highlight 1]: How Does Genetics Shape Who We Are? [Highlight 2]: What Role Does the Environment Truly Play in Defining Us? [Highlight 3]: Are We Hardwired by Our DNA, or Can We Rewrite Our Destiny? 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction 1:57 — Robert Plomin, Philosophy and Psychology 4:12 — Why Behavioural Genetics? 8:21 — Publishing Blueprint 14:51 — Heritability 30:15 — The Basics of DNA 34:34 — Genetic Variances and Binary Myths 41:21 — Labels and Certificates 45:33 — Nonshared Environments and The Nature of Nurture 1:00:51 — Self-Selecting Within Environments 1:07:04 — Group Difference and Heritability 1:13:03 — Academic Success: DNA vs. Schooling 1:21:17 — Ethical Considerations 1:27:01 — Moral Responsibility and Accountability 1:31:23 — The Future of Genetics 1:42:38 — Genetic Trajectories and Random Events 1:45:17 — The DNA Revolution 1:48:21 — Closing Remarks 📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible — thanks!) Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin: https://amzn.to/3T9htYp King’s College London: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-p… Common Disorders are Quantitative Traits by Robert Plomin: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19859… Gattaca (1997): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/ 🌐 Connect Linktree: https://linktr.ee/samueldevis89 Substack: https://thesocraticsessions.substack… Twitter: / samueldevis89 Facebook Page: / thesocraticsessions Instagram: / samueldevis89 Goodreads: / samuel-devis Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/samueldevis8… Threads: https://www.threads.net/@samueldevis89 LinkedIn Page: / thesocraticsessions 🎧 Subscribe 📺 YouTube: / @samueldevis89 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/SamuelDevis89 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lOdYbN… Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Socr… Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/3… Other Podcast Platforms: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh… 📷 Gear (affiliate links — thanks!) Camera (Sony A6400): https://amzn.to/46jehNn Lens (Sigma 16mm): https://amzn.to/47DfiRn Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4): https://amzn.to/47lJzEP Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1): https://amzn.to/3uou7Jq Mic (RØDE PodMic): https://amzn.to/3sJFUBE Lights (Elgato Key Light Air): https://amzn.to/3TZMgYX Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp): https://amzn.to/47EGSOf Recording Software (Riverside. FM): https://www.tinyurl.com/riversidesam89 👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding. 🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications. 📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions. 🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let’s keep the conversation going. #genetics #nature #nurture #dna #heritability #genome #biology #philosophy.
Bitcoin: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/a…

🗣️ Highlights.
[Highlight 1]: How Does Genetics Shape Who We Are?
[Highlight 2]: What Role Does the Environment Truly Play in Defining Us?
[Highlight 3]: Are We Hardwired by Our DNA, or Can We Rewrite Our Destiny?

🕒 Timestamps.
0:00 — Introduction.
1:57 — Robert Plomin, Philosophy and Psychology.
4:12 — Why Behavioural Genetics?
8:21 — Publishing Blueprint.
14:51 — Heritability.
30:15 — The Basics of DNA
34:34 — Genetic Variances and Binary Myths.
41:21 — Labels and Certificates.
45:33 — Nonshared Environments and The Nature of Nurture.
1:00:51 — Self-Selecting Within Environments.
1:07:04 — Group Difference and Heritability.
1:13:03 — Academic Success: DNA vs. Schooling.
1:21:17 — Ethical Considerations.
1:27:01 — Moral Responsibility and Accountability.
1:31:23 — The Future of Genetics.
1:42:38 — Genetic Trajectories and Random Events.
1:45:17 — The DNA Revolution.
1:48:21 — Closing Remarks.

📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible — thanks!)
Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin: https://amzn.to/3T9htYp.
King’s College London: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-p…
Common Disorders are Quantitative Traits by Robert Plomin: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19859…
Gattaca (1997): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/

🌐 Connect.

Continue reading “Behavioural Genetics: DNA & Individual Differences | Robert Plomin | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #28” | >

Humans have been selectively breeding cats and dogs for thousands of years to make more desirable pets. A new startup called the Los Angeles Project aims to speed up that process with genetic engineering to make glow-in-the-dark rabbits, hypoallergenic cats and dogs, and possibly, one day, actual unicorns.

The Los Angeles Project is the brainchild of biohacker Josie Zayner, who in 2017 publicly injected herself with the gene-editing tool Crispr during a conference in San Francisco and livestreamed it. “I want to help humans genetically modify themselves,” she said at the time. She’s also given herself a fecal transplant and a DIY Covid vaccine and is the founder and CEO of The Odin, a company that sells home genetic-engineering kits.

Now, Zayner wants to create the next generation of pets. “I think, as a human species, it’s kind of our moral prerogative to level up animals,” she says.

Read more | >