Narrative Economics, Tech Ethics, and Social Change: A Historical Perspective

In the past week, a group of tech entrepreneurs, scientists, and politicians, including Elon Musk, have published an open letter asking a six-month moratorium on research into very powerful artificial intelligence (AI) because they believe it poses major risks to society. The Future of Life Institute, a non-profit organization, issued a statement claiming that society has prevented the development of potentially terrible technology in the past, and we can do the same today.

Among the signatories are Musk, Steve Wozniak, Yoshua Bengio, Stuart Russel, Carles Sierra, and Ramón López De Mantaras, among others, who warn of the supposed dangers of AI development if it is not properly regulated and planned. They further claim that no one, not even the creators of the brains, can reliably grasp, predict, or regulate these artificial intelligences. They are proposing that developers engage with lawyers to speed the establishment of a strong legal framework around AI, and that AI systems be developed only when there is certainty that their consequences are positive and risks are manageable.

The letter goes on to seek a six-month halt on the training of the most powerful AI systems, such as GPT-4. Governments should take action to enforce this moratorium if the parties concerned refuse to temporarily halt their research.

Throughout history, technical advancements have fueled human development, resulting in dramatic social shifts. Each technological revolution, from the agricultural revolution to the industrial revolution to the digital age, has resulted in sociological revolutions, affecting how people live, work, and interact. However, the impact of technological breakthroughs on society is characterized not only by the technology itself, but also by the narrative around it and its ethical use.

Robert Shiller's concept of narrative economics emphasizes the impact of stories or narratives on economic decisions and behaviors. Narratives may shape how people see and grasp economic events, influencing their expectations, beliefs, and actions. The story of technological evolution is no exception, since it has a considerable influence on how society perceives and reacts to new technologies.

Historically, the narrative around technological developments was generally one of optimism and progress, highlighting the benefits of new technology while downplaying or dismissing any potential drawbacks. The prevalent narrative of the industrial revolution, for example, was one of progress and economic success, with little focus on horrible working conditions and worker exploitation. The prevalent narrative throughout the rise of the internet and digital technologies was one of convenience and connectivity, with little attention for issues such as privacy and the impact on social bonds.

As the negative impacts of these technologies become more apparent, the narrative around them begins to shift. For example, when the negative impacts of the industrial revolution became more apparent, the narrative shifted to stress worker rights and labor protections. Similarly, as concerns about internet privacy and misinformation grow, the narrative has shifted to a more critical examination of emerging technologies and their impact on society.

The narrative around technological advancements may also have a significant impact on the ethical usage of technology. For example, the narrative around artificial intelligence (AI) is today marked by both optimism and skepticism. While AI has the potential to alter businesses and improve people's lives, there are concerns that it may be employed in ways that violate ethical standards or harm individuals or society.

To ensure that technology is used ethically, a narrative that covers both the potential benefits and risks must be established. By detecting potential dangers, society may take steps to mitigate them and ensure that technology is used for the benefit of everyone.

However, just identifying the potential dangers of technology in a tale is insufficient. To ensure that technology is used responsibly, a framework for examining the ethical implications of developing technologies must be established. To ensure that ethical challenges stay at the forefront of technology development and deployment, technologists, legislators, and the general public must engage in ongoing dialogue.

For example, there is ongoing debate over the ethical implications of AI's use in autonomous weapons and facial recognition technology. These debates highlight the need of ongoing dialogue and a shared awareness of the ethical implications of evolving technologies.

To summarize, technological advancements have resulted in tremendous societal changes throughout history, with the narrative around these breakthroughs playing an important role in determining how society perceives and reacts to new technology. As new technologies are developed, it is critical that the narrative around them reflects both their potential benefits and risks, and that ethical issues stay at the forefront of technological development and deployment. By doing so, we can ensure that technology is used for the benefit of everyone and that we continue to progress toward a more just and equitable society.

So, how much does this card have narrative and how much does it have truth? It is something that time will allow us to define.