Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”, paradoxes and AI

Today, 06/09/2023, let’s talk about Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”, paradoxes and AI?

We've heard a lot about Christopher Nolan's movie about scientist Robert Oppenheimer. Most of the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times tells us, ‘Magnificent. Christopher Nolan’s three-hour historical biopic “Oppenheimer” is a gorgeously photographed, brilliantly acted, masterfully edited and thoroughly engrossing epic that instantly takes its place among the finest films of this decade’.?

But let's leave the more cinematic part behind and focus on two:

On one hand, these words from the film critic, Peter Bradshaw, of The Guardian: ‘The main event is that terrifying first demonstration: the Trinity nuclear test in the New Mexico desert in July 1945, when Oppenheimer is said to have silently pondered (and later intoned on TV) Vishnu’s lines from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds …’

And, on the other hand, in these words from David Rooney, of The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Perhaps the most surprising element of this audacious epic is that the scramble for atomic armament ends up being secondary to the scathing depiction of political gamesmanship, as one of the most brilliant scientific minds of the 20th century is vilified for voicing learned opinions that go against America’s arms-race thinking.’

The physicist's role is a difficult one... Oppenheimer found himself caught in the tension between his professional duty as a scientist, his responsibility to political power, and his personal conscience regarding the terrible consequences of his work. We must start with the assumption, of course, that he never imagined the terrible impact his research would have on humanity. Great advancements that entail great evils. Paradoxical, isn't it?

It was the director himself, in a recent interview with Wired, who related the arms race brought about by the atomic bomb with the revolution that the escalation of AI has represented in recent months. Nolan said: ‘I think the relationship is interesting. It's not the same. But it's the best analogy to the dangers of releasing new technology into the world without thinking... It's a cautionary tale. There are lessons to be learned from it. That said, I consider the atomic bomb one of the technologies that changed and endangered the world.'

Certainly, this relationship gives a lot to think about, doesn't it?

The role of scientists: They must consider the ethical implications of their research and decisions; they cannot ignore them. The goal will be not to lose control over AI, as happened with nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

The role of governments: Oppenheimer's paradox led to international efforts to control and regulate nuclear weapons. That past experience should be applied to the need for international regulations in the development and use of AI today.

The role of society: There is public awareness that necessarily sees the dangers of technology. It would also be advisable for education and public awareness of these dangers to be a priority.

We cannot fall into the same mistake that Oppenheimer made, taking refuge in the false neutrality of 'I'm just doing my job.' It cost him dearly. Let's not make the same mistake.