The hottest Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

In the race between humans and AIs, Data Governance might be the only lever we can pull, to charge for a fair win against the machines

The Diary of a #DataCitizen • 19 implied HN points • 28 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Governance Data Management Ethics Human Impact Technology Trends
  1. Data governance is important for keeping technology human-friendly. It helps us make sure that tech doesn't take over our lives.
  2. The rise of AI has changed the game, making data and AI governance even more crucial. We need to focus on using technology in ways that benefit everyone.
  3. Good tech creates real value for people. It's about how well technology works for the users, not just its shiny features or capabilities.

💛 Artificial Intelligence: A Boon for Humanity or a Dreadful Weapon of Tyranny?

The Glenn Meder Newsletter • 530 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Surveillance Ethics Privacy Manipulation
  1. Artificial intelligence has advanced rapidly, blurring the line between human and AI interactions.
  2. Big Tech companies like Google and Facebook use AI to manipulate public opinion and influence elections.
  3. AI, in the hands of those seeking power, can be a dangerous tool for control and manipulation of individuals and society.

Dealing with insults, the Stoic way

Figs in Winter: New Stoicism and beyond • 884 implied HN points • 05 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Stoicism Social justice Self-Control Humanity
  1. Stoics advise ignoring insults to maintain emotional calm and focus on facts rather than opinions.
  2. Debates in Stoic circles about insults involve balancing personal response with addressing social injustices.
  3. Important to distinguish between advising Stoics and non-Stoics, as well as between personal behavior and social action in Stoicism.

Three Things That Should Be Required For Weight Loss Research

Weight and Healthcare • 718 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Research Health Impact Ethics Health Science
  1. Require five-year follow-up with mandatory publication to improve accuracy and information in weight loss studies
  2. Mandate essential information in bold print at the beginning of weight loss studies to ensure transparency and accessibility
  3. Implement a weight-neutral comparator group in weight loss studies to distinguish impacts of behavior changes from weight loss, reducing health risks
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Elephant Riding

Polymathic Being • 104 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Cognition Emotion Human behavior
  1. We balance emotions and reason like an elephant and a rider. The elephant represents our feelings, which often drive our decisions more than we think.
  2. Relying only on logic can lead to problems. Emotions help us make decisions, and without them, we might struggle with even simple choices.
  3. To make better decisions, we should understand our emotions and how they influence us. This means taking time to think things through and checking if our feelings align with reality.

The Artificial Intelligence Project

Teaching computers how to talk • 99 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Digital Culture Human-computer interaction Future Trends Ethics
  1. Artificial intelligence is largely driven by our desire to create something better than ourselves. We often design AI to reflect human traits, which raises questions about our motivations.
  2. People may start preferring AI companions over real relationships because they can be ideal, obedient, and without the messiness of human emotions.
  3. If AI becomes too autonomous, it could potentially act against human interests, leading to serious consequences. This raises important concerns about how we manage and control artificial intelligence.

What Can be Done in 59 Seconds: An Opportunity (and a Crisis)

One Useful Thing • 1013 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Productivity Ethics Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI tools like Copilot and GPTs are making AI use easier and more normal.
  2. Using AI for tasks can lead to a crisis in the workplace regarding the value of human effort and skills.
  3. Despite the crisis, there is an opportunity to delegate tasks to AI, allowing humans to focus on what they enjoy and explore new interests.

LLM Links, 12/1

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data Ethics Education
  1. AI systems are being developed to have better memory which would improve conversations with users. If they can remember past interactions, it could lead to more meaningful and deeper exchanges.
  2. Humans have unique qualities like vulnerability and connection that AI can't replicate. This means people will still value human interactions over machines, no matter how advanced they become.
  3. Virtual friends powered by AI can help those who are lonely, but they might also distract from real-life relationships. It's important to balance technology use with human connections.

The Flip, The Formation, and The Fun

The Joyous Struggle • 691 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Ethics Politics Education Culture
  1. The flip involves changing our understanding of reality to see consciousness and value as primary, leading to a sacred view of the world.
  2. The formation requires a shift from utilitarianism to virtue ethics, focusing on shaping desires towards higher purposes and societal good.
  3. The fun pertains to a shift in societal goals from growth to intrinsic ends like spiritual and creative fulfillment, aiming for an attractive and galvanizing future.

Peter Singer, Palestine, and the Professional Perils of Philosophy (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 818 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Political Philosophy Utilitarianism Power Dynamics
  1. Approaching current events with only moral intuitions and mainstream opinions can lead to misguided analysis.
  2. Philosophical training in argument analysis needs to be supplemented with a robust understanding of the real world dynamics of power and violence for accurate interpretation.
  3. Relying solely on moral intuitions and mainstream sources for analysis of complex issues like conflict in Palestine can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings and oversimplifications.

Why Human-in-the-Loop is Essential for Generative AI

Rod’s Blog • 476 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Generative AI
  1. Generative AI should incorporate human oversight and feedback to ensure accuracy and reliability, fairness and accountability, creativity and diversity, as well as ethics and compliance.
  2. Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) design strategy involves human expertise and intervention at various stages of an AI system's operation, especially in generative AI for training, evaluation, and output generation processes.
  3. Using AI to augment, not replace, human capabilities is essential for responsible and human-centered AI, as it leverages the strengths of both AI and humans, fosters collaboration and learning, and preserves human dignity and agency.

AI safety is not a model property

AI Snake Oil • 796 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Cybersecurity Ethics
  1. AI safety is not a property of AI models, but depends heavily on the context and environment in which the AI system is deployed.
  2. Efforts to fix AI safety solely at the model level are limited, as misuses can still occur since models lack necessary context for decision-making.
  3. Defenses against AI model misuse should focus primarily outside models, on attack surfaces like email scanners and URL blacklists, and red teaming should shift towards early warning of adversary capabilities.

One True Love

Don't Worry About the Vase • 940 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Dating Neural Networks Automation Ethics
  1. The story discusses a man's use of AI to find his One True Love by having the AI communicate with women on his behalf.
  2. The man's approach included filtering potential matches based on various criteria, leading to improved results over time.
  3. Ultimately, the AI suggested he propose to his chosen partner, which he did, and she said yes.

The Impact of AI on the Job Market

Rod’s Blog • 496 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Job Market Ethics Innovation Inequality
  1. AI is a disruptive technology with potential benefits like efficiency and innovation, but it also comes with challenges such as job displacement and inequality.
  2. AI's impact on the job market will be significant in the coming years, leading to changes and challenges that need to be addressed.
  3. It is important to prepare for the changes that AI will bring to the job market by staying informed and proactive in adapting to new skills and technologies.

AI Roundup 099: Apocalypse Not

Artificial Ignorance • 33 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Innovation Ethics Industry Trends
  1. In 2024, concerns about AI leading to disaster, called 'AI doom,' decreased significantly compared to 2023. Many voices that once highlighted these worries were less prominent, suggesting a shift in focus.
  2. New AI models are emerging that outperform existing ones at a lower cost and resource demand. This indicates a growing competition in the AI field, especially from companies in China.
  3. OpenAI is planning to become a for-profit organization, which raises questions about its future direction and relationship with charitable initiatives. This transformation remains controversial among stakeholders.

The Ethics of Eating: Are Some DIETS More MORAL Than Others?

Peter Boghossian • 432 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Ethics Diets Vegetarianism Veganism
  1. The discussion explores the ethics of different diets like vegetarianism and veganism.
  2. They disagreed on aspects of hunting, with differing views on killing animals for certain reasons.
  3. The conversation also touches on whether an animal's intelligence should be considered in consuming it, and debates if there are circumstances where eating a human could be justified.

Import AI 360: Guessing emotions; drone targeting dataset; frameworks for AI alignment

Import AI • 379 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Datasets Security Language Models Ethics
  1. Teaching AI to understand complex human emotions like joy, surprise, and anger can help in applications like surveillance and advertising.
  2. AI systems, like other software, are vulnerable to attacks, as shown by a demonstration breaking MoE models with a buffer overflow attack.
  3. Frameworks are being developed to ensure AI systems align with diverse human values, considering various perspectives and how to measure alignment.
  4. The development of AI systems is advancing in areas like emotion recognition, system security, and value alignment.
  5. Researchers are pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities, from emotion recognition to security to ethical alignment.
  6. Current AI trends indicate growth in researching human emotions, security vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations.

A Beneficial AGI Manifesto

Eurykosmotron • 628 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Ethics Research Decentralization Alignment
  1. The time to create beneficial Artificial General Intelligence is now, with a clear idea of what needs to be solved.
  2. The development of AGI could lead to Artificial Superintelligence and a potential 'intelligence explosion'.
  3. Decentralized AGI development is crucial to ensure alignment with human values and to avoid monopolization by a few elites.

Generative AI, Bullshit as a Service

The Algorithmic Bridge • 891 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Creativity Writing
  1. Generative AI technology is often used for negative purposes like spamming, cheating, and faking.
  2. The democratization of creative freedom through AI may not be beneficial as it can lead to misuse by those who don't truly value it.
  3. Despite the potential of AI to revolutionize the world, its primary current use is for mundane and simplistic tasks, highlighting the complexities and limitations of humanity.

Happiness and the pursuit of a good and meaningful life

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Happiness Meaning of life Ethics Well-being Existentialism
  1. Happiness is more than just pleasure. It's about living a good life that includes strong relationships and a sense of purpose.
  2. We often face trade-offs in life, like choosing between immediate pleasures and long-term goals. Balancing these can lead to greater life satisfaction.
  3. Finding meaning in life often comes from contributing to others and building connections, rather than just chasing personal happiness.

Response to Tyler Cowen's Existential risk, AI, and the inevitable turn in human history

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2464 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Predictions Ethics Innovation Future
  1. Predictions about the future are hard, especially about technological advancements like AI.
  2. Existential risks from AI should not be underestimated, as they can lead to potentially negative outcomes.
  3. It is important to carefully consider the consequences of advancing AI technology and not rush into decisions that may have long-term impacts.

Deepfake pedagogy

imperfect offerings • 319 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Video Education Media Ethics
  1. Synthetic media like deepfake videos raise concerns about truth and authenticity, impacting education and public discourse.
  2. The development and use of AI-generated media like Sora in elections and public communication can distort reality and trust in information.
  3. Educators need to focus on critical thinking, authentic assessment, and personal engagement to navigate the challenges posed by synthetic media in learning environments.

Judaism, Atheism, and the Language of the Sacred: A Religious Mini-Memoir (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 599 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Atheism Philosophy Ethics Beliefs
  1. The author reflects on their journey from Judaism to atheism, highlighting the conflict between personal beliefs and traditional religious views.
  2. The philosophical debate on the existence of God played a significant role in the author's transition to atheism, questioning the concept of a deity in the face of suffering and evil.
  3. Despite identifying as an atheist, recent events have rekindled a desire for religious language to articulate deep emotions and moral outrage in response to tragic events.

Why So Many People Told Me To Kill Myself This Weekend

Singal-Minded • 1644 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
📰 News Online Harassment Journalism Podcasts Social media Ethics
  1. The author received harsh and disturbing responses online, including calls to kill themselves, after tweeting about an issue they disagreed with.
  2. There was a situation where a podcast misinterpreted and misrepresented a doctor's recommendation regarding hormone treatment for a transgender individual, leading to a Twitter controversy.
  3. The author faced escalating online harassment and suicide-baiting from certain individuals and their followers, highlighting the toxic nature of social media interactions.

"Unbundling" experiences

Civic Renaissance with Alexandra Hudson • 439 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement Society Psychology Ethics Personal Stories
  1. Our experiences and those of others may not always represent the whole picture, so it's important to avoid generalizations.
  2. Unbundling experiences can help us avoid negative assumptions about the world and others based on limited encounters.
  3. Choosing stories of exoneration over condemnation can empower us to see the dignity in others despite their mistakes.

Imago DEI

Reactionary Feminist • 17 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Innovation Ethics Philosophy Cultural impact Human nature
  1. Conservatives often accept new technology but must recognize its potential to undermine traditional values. It's tricky because embracing innovation can clash with the idea of conserving what is meaningful.
  2. There's a concern that technology is erasing the essence of what it means to be human. Some people think we need to improve humanity through tech, but this risks losing our fundamental nature.
  3. Instead of fearing technology, the focus should be on using it in ways that support our human nature. A balanced approach can lead to progress without sacrificing who we are.

(Ad-free Video) Jonathan Rauch: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy

Critical Mass • 4 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Democracy Philosophy Ethics Society
  1. Jonathan Rauch believes Christianity has positive moral values that support democracy. He thinks these values should be embraced to help improve democracy in the U.S.
  2. The discussion explores different views on the role of Christian teachings in society. It highlights the importance of understanding and respecting differing perspectives.
  3. Rauch's new book offers a surprising look at Christianity, challenging common criticisms. He argues for the importance of values that connect with democratic principles.

The Braindead War on Perry Hendricks

Going Awol • 319 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Bioethics Abortion Ethics Race Academic writing
  1. Some academics criticized Perry Hendricks without fully reading his work, showcasing the importance of engaging with content before forming opinions.
  2. Hendricks presented a conditional argument about abortion being wrong and its potential benefits in preventing morally questionable actions.
  3. While controversial, Hendricks' views touch on complex ethical debates such as moral luck and the historical context of organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Responsible AI in Security

Rod’s Blog • 396 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Ethics Data Privacy
  1. AI in security offers enhanced threat detection and response capabilities by analyzing data and providing insights.
  2. Responsible AI in security involves principles like transparency, safety, human control, and privacy to ensure ethical use.
  3. Security professionals can leverage responsible AI to improve performance while safeguarding data, privacy, and safety.