Empathy is vital for "Superintelligence"

One of the things I spent a lot of this summer doing was reading books on emerging technology - which I'm sure some people find a strange way to recharge in a career focused on risk and technology!

One book I enjoyed reading was "Superintelligence" by Bostrom which charts possible theoretical future pathways to technology where humanity's intelligence is exceeded in all dimensions by the technology it creates.

It's both an interesting read and a firm favourite of Silicon Valley stars such as Elon Musk. I thought it was really clear laid out and thoughtful in terms of how it considered possible pathways, challenges and potential strategies - clearly written by someone who cares about the subject and has devoted significant time to research and structure.

One thing I thought it was relatively silent on is the role that we play in creating technology - how we integrate our society into it as much as it integrates into our society. If anything while I can picture a "farflung pathway where photonic neuromorphic computing could intersect with quantum computing and future communication protocols" creating the sort of challenge Bostrom outlines - the map for designing benevolence is much less clearly coloured in.

The challenges associated with this can be seen in what I am sure we will one day refer to as "primitive AI" in areas such as bias, a lack of transparency and understanding in "how it works" and challenges in representing the problem that we want to solve in a way that reflects a broader ecosystem of stakeholders, structures and systems.

Therefore for me if we want to successfully implement future technology with humanity at the centre then empathy will be key in terms of both:

• empathy for others in seeking multiple views to create a better and representative solution to challenges we want to solve with technology - how we create "pause and pace".
• empathy for ourselves in understanding and evolving our own values, biases and experiences to reflect the future we want to create- how we "transmute rather than transmit trauma".

Given that more and more people are using technology to shape the future then this could be seen as the same thing for different perspectives - certainly both an individual and collective responsibility and journey.

Beyond a specific technology I am studying I'm certainly reading a lot less outside of holiday's and really enjoying to starting to see colleagues and clients again but as we continue to integrate technology into areas into our public spaces, our workplaces our homes and our healthcare it was something I wanted to both share and try and remember myself in whatever small role I play!