And this is why we can find wisdom to inform contemporary discourse in age-old myths.
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And what are the looming moral and practical implications of this technology?
This does raise an interesting question though.
Think of self-driving cars removing truckers from work for instance.
But unless the money generated from such moves go to the dispossessed, the privileged and wealthy (i.e.
those similar to Hephaestus) will benefit most.
This idea is explored further in the continuing myths.
Talos was a bronze giant robot, again made by Hephaestus.
And theres a notable moral in these stories: superior technology can help exercise control.
Think of military robots, for instance, which have been in use since World War II.
And its not just war that AI can serve those in power.
Pandora: surpassing the limits
Pandora was created as an instrument of punishment.
Hephaestus fabricated Pandora, molding earth and water into the shape of a beautiful woman.
She was also endowed with treachery, deceit, and seduction.
At the end, Zeus gave her a mysterious jar.
Its unclear whether Pandora has the ability to learn, choose, or act autonomously, Mayor notes.
Her only mission is to kick off the jar of all human misfortune.
In modern terms, she does what shes programmed to do.
And, with AI, dealing with elements we simply dont understand?
According to Zarkadakis, theres a lot of hubris in AI as well.
I think the purpose of God is to remind people that theyre not gods themselves.
And you know, in the absence of gods, we have this problem, right?
We think we are gods because we dont need God anymore.
So were building our own gods that will be our gods in the future, he explained.
This recalls Steven Hawkings warning over the potential danger of AI.
It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate.
Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldnt compete, and would be superseded.
So should we open Pandoras jar?
Our choice doesnt differ too much from the one Epimetheus had to make.
And based on that, what might be the cost and consequences of the technology?
But teaching ethics and morality to AI systems has been so far unsuccessful.
Think of the racism scandals ofMicrosofts TayandScatterLabs Lee Luda.
Or, most recently,Metas Galactica.
Zarkadakis believes that we dont actually need conscious AI.
Theres a massive usefulness for artificial intelligence to help us reach that point.
And shouldnt this be technologys mission?
Ultimately, AI is much like Pandoras mysterious jar.
We dont know whats inside and we can assume it contains both good and evil.
Ancient Greek myth has told us the dangers of AI, its now up to us to listen.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
