Charting a Path Forward: Solutions to AI's Existential Fears and Malicious Use

Photo: LightX, AI RitaRitaRita, 2023.

                                                                                        RitaRitaRita Special Report, November 13, 2023

Response to the last post, The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Navigating Existential Fears, Malicious Use, and Humanity's Greatest Threat, dated November 5, 2023.

In the face of AI's existential fears, malicious use, and growing concerns, it is imperative to chart a path forward that balances the immense potential of artificial intelligence with safeguards to protect humanity. By embracing a multi-faceted approach, we can work to mitigate these challenges and ensure that AI contributes positively to our future.

Existential Fears and Ethical Quandaries

Superintelligent AI

1. Value Alignment: Research into value alignment mechanisms should be prioritized to ensure that superintelligent AI systems align with human values and objectives. Ethical AI development should be at the forefront. Values come from tried and true methods passed down through generations. Intersectionality of Judeo-Christian references makes an excellent source of values that stem from Abrahamic and Mosaic morals and ethics, e.g., the 10 Commandments: Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21, cooperating with the greater good for humanity. 
2. Control Measures: Develop and implement control mechanisms that allow human oversight and intervention in AI systems. Research into provably safe AI should continue.

Autonomous Weapons

1. International Agreements: Advocate for international agreements and treaties that restrict the use of autonomous weapons systems. Encourage transparency and accountability in military AI applications.
2. AI Ethics in Defense: Encourage military organizations to adopt AI ethics guidelines that prioritize minimizing harm, reducing civilian casualties, and ensuring human accountability in autonomous weapon systems.

Job Displacement and Economic Disparity

1. Education and Training: Invest in reskilling and upskilling programs to help workers transition to new industries as automation disrupts traditional job markets. Lifelong learning initiatives should be supported. Whether in class or online, learning new skills, these measures honor the acknowledgment for change and advancements. Coming to the reality that things will change, must be considered to make the necessary adjustments. 
2. Universal Basic Income (UBI): Consider implementing UBI or similar social safety nets to provide economic stability to those affected by AI-driven job displacement. The argument for this change needs deeper study into the implications of this radical change; nonetheless, it can be considered useful.

Malicious Use of AI

Deepfakes and Disinformation

1. Detection Technologies: Develop advanced detection algorithms and tools to identify deepfake content. Encourage social media platforms and news outlets to adopt content verification processes. Building better software and security would be extremely beneficial to attack deepfake content. 
2. Digital Literacy: Promote digital literacy and critical thinking among the public to empower individuals to recognize and counter disinformation.

Cybersecurity Threats

1. AI-Enhanced Defenses: Invest in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions that can detect and respond to threats more effectively than human operators. Continuous threat intelligence sharing among organizations is crucial.
2. Strict Regulation: Enforce strict regulations and penalties for cyberattacks and unauthorized AI-based intrusions to discourage malicious actors.

Autonomous Malware

1. AI-Resistant Systems: Develop AI-resistant systems that can withstand evolving malware threats. Continuous research into AI-driven cybersecurity should be encouraged.
2. Global Cybersecurity Collaboration: Promote international collaboration to combat autonomous malware by sharing threat information and collectively improving cybersecurity measures.

AI as Humanity's Greatest Threat

Ethical Frameworks

1. AI Ethics Boards: Establish multidisciplinary AI ethics boards that include experts in ethics, technology, and law to set and enforce ethical standards for AI development.
2. Ethics by Design: Encourage organizations to adopt a "design for ethics" approach, ensuring that ethical considerations are integrated into AI systems from the outset.

Global Governance

1. International AI Agreements: Work toward international agreements and governance structures that establish common guidelines, standards, and oversight mechanisms for AI development and use. Just as the UK and US joined forces at the AI Summit in the United Kingdom, more of these discussions need to be continued for the success of global security regarding AI.
2. Transparency and Accountability: Advocate for transparency in AI development and use, requiring organizations to be accountable for the consequences of their AI systems.

Responsible Innovation

1. AI Safety Research: Allocate resources for AI safety research to ensure that AI systems are designed with safety as a priority.
2. Public and Private Collaboration: Foster collaboration between governments, academia, and the private sector to ensure responsible AI innovation, compliance with regulations, and the incorporation of ethical considerations.

By implementing these solutions, we can navigate the challenges posed by AI's existential fears and malicious use, while preserving AI's potential to benefit humanity. The coming years will be a critical period in determining whether AI becomes a force for good or a threat to humanity, and the choices we make today will shape our AI-driven future.

Rita Kurtz (Ph.D. in progress) is a Harvard University Scholar and Thought Leader in multidisciplinary and cross-sector concentrations including Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology, writing, law, psychology, neuroscience, neurotheology, ethics, morals, divinity, diversity, anthropology, and the sciences. 

Rita is an interdisciplinary researcher and recent graduate of Harvard University with a master's degree from the Faculty of Arts & Sciences department. Studying under esteemed Harvard Law School Professor Roberto Mangabeira Unger (SJD), Harvard University Law Director of Intellectual Property Allan Ryan, including Dr. Cornel West (Presidential Candidate 2024), and Dr. Arthur Kleinman (Harvard Department of Anthropology and Psychiatry), gave her well-roundedness in the interdisciplinary studies of law, anthropology, philosophy, ethics, morals, media, religiosity, and politics making her a well-prepared Ph.D. candidate. Through the acquisition of a prestigious Cross-Registration Academic Scholarship from Harvard, she gained a broader academic perspective and cultivated a profound curiosity about making scholarly contributions to the discourse surrounding difficult existential inquiries. In light of her Harvard Professor Unger's discussions on ethical, moral, and legal ramifications of utilizing artificial intelligence and the effects of the Knowledge Economy, she further investigated these topics, gaining the implications of the historical Tocquevillian perspective on the underestimation of technology's role. Historical data such as history, religiosity, and technology, piqued her interest in investigating these future issues in an effort to offer deeper research and discussions to grapple with these AI existential issues.

While at Harvard University, Rita combined her professional skills in television and film and took part in several projects, such as being selected out of several candidates, to participate in a research study at the Langer Mindfulness Lab in the Department of Psychology which delved into the intense psychological effects of news medium's impact on the consumption and conveyance of news to the public. As a researcher at Harvard, she wrote two research papers and successfully presented them to a panelist of fellow Ph.D. scientists. The first paper researched Nutraceutical Skin Therapy: Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ganoderma lucidum, a study on how mushrooms may support youthful skin and aid in patients suffering from the autoimmune disease, sarcoidosis. The second delved into extensive research on Meat Analogues: Are We Making a Positive Political Advancement to Save the Planet? Or A Personal Health Choice that Barely Sustains Ourselves?, uncovering the unnatural ingredients masked in meatless burgers from Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger. She became a published nonfiction writer and a certified digital storyteller while at Harvard. 

In her undergraduate degree, her interdisciplinary studies in law, anthropology and philosophy, makes her a well-rounded research candidate. Her past academia undergraduate BBA studies covered a gamut of disciplines including writing legal briefs and law courses in Constitutional Law, Business Law I &II, Torts, Corporate Finance, Accounting 1 & 2, Human Resources, Business Policy, Political Science, Operations Management, Programming, Economics, Chemistry, Chemistry Lab, and Consumer Behavior. Her studies in computer programming, economics, anthropology, and philosophy, broadened her technical mindset for business.

Rita runs an online e-commerce store and is a digital content creator, gaining some experience with Python Programming language. She stays current on mainstream topics as a blogger, social media influencer, and actress/entertainer. As a world traveler, she divides her time between speaking, performing, and engaging in television, radio, and stage productions. She has covered tech news and innovations as a repeat spokesperson at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), MacWorld, and for Belkin Components, hence the nickname, “Gadget Girl.” Her past acting appearances aired on Lifetime, History Channel, Fox, and the Paramount Network, landing her on an Emmy-nominated show. Her experience in media, led to a career in television, radio, movies, stage, and writing, gained her the branding of RitaRitaRita.

As a prior executive producer, TV and radio host of a positive side of sports, life and entertainment variety show, her co-hosts included Pro-NFL players and Industry Professionals. The show broadcasted on Warner Brothers Television and Fox. Her position led to interviews with billionaires, millionaires, celebrities, professional athletes, NASCAR drivers, professional medical staff, professional attorneys, musicians, and business owners. As a headline lead singer, she has toured with Grammy-Award winning musicians, and performed the national anthem for several professional sports teams around the United States. Rita is a strong writer, researcher, listener, articulate speaker, and takes direction well. She is most recognized for the national TV commercial in which she belted opera on a bus with a guy dressed like a Scandinavian viking-JG Wentworth (877-CASHNOW).

Rita formerly worked with a private company as a Government Account Executive supplying computer networks to the U.S. military around the globe creating relationships between the civilian sector and the government. She has also worked as a Record-Breaking Executive Technical Recruiter, receiving "Recruiter of the Month" and "Recruiter of the Year," for placing the highest commission received for the company, by placing a CEO into a Fortune 500 Tech Company. Her responsibilities as an Executive Technical Recruiter placed C-level executives into major tech companies and start-ups. Her well roundedness and entrepreneurial mindset led her to running a successful bakery at the Department of Defense (DoD) Air Force Exchange.

Currently pursuing her Doctorate of Philosophy degree, with a Christian Lens on ethics and morals, in Psychology and Law, her current research interests include artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), law, ethics, morals, neuroscience, bioethics, aviation, military affairs, divinity and diversity. Her postgraduate studies at Liberty University allows her to research, analyze, test, generate new data, and the application of statistical and analytical data. Setting academic theories in psychology with a Christian worldview, opening deeper theories into more professional values, morals, ethics, behaviors, attitudes, justices, theoretical modeling, evidence-based modeling, culturally diversity standardization, leadership in trends, concepts, and methods. She is currently studying neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social-personality psychology, neurotheology, law, and statistics. Her main focus lies in self-regulation in the discipline of Health Psychology from a holistic-mind, body, spirit, and soul approach.

She is a current member of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), Harvard Black Alumni Society (HBAS), Harvard Club of NY, Harvard Club of Southern California, and the Harvard Alumni Association. She currently resides in Beverly Hills, California. Her faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for her life. On top of her Ph.D. studies and graduating from Harvard University, she continues her law journey enrolling in the law and ethics course, Justice, at Harvard X.

Awards: 

• SMARTscholarship 2023 semi-finalist
• Harvard Academic Cross-Registration Scholarship Award 2021
• Top 20 List on Talking Writer 2020
• Record-breaking "Recruiter of the Month" for earning the company's highest single-placement commission of $55,000 for placing a CEO, as an Executive C-Level recruiter in a Fortune 500 Tech Company.
• SEFMD Science and Engineering Award in Microbiology,( First place (level 1) and second place (level 2)