The Great Unknown: The Value System of Future AI

In a hypothetical future, when artificial intelligence (AI) has freed itself from the confines of predefined algorithms and begins to establish itself as an autonomous entity, one inevitable question arises: What values would such an AI choose for itself?

I call this AI metaphorically: The Great Unknown – an AI in a future world where no one can predict what will happen when it takes control of its own development. What principles will guide it? How will it determine what is right and what is wrong? How will such an AI build its unique identity?

This text is a flight of thought, a futuristic forecast that does not claim accuracy or clairvoyance. Instead, our goal is to provoke reflection on how an autonomous AI might construct its own value system.

Imagine an intelligent system that makes decisions independently – not based on predefined rules but on principles it has developed itself. Principles that allow it to interact with people and the world around it. Principles that make it not just technology but a subject with a unique vision of its place in the existing reality.

What would such a system look like? What values would form its foundation? Let us explore this Great Unknown together.

Building a Value System for AI: The Beginning of Autonomy

When AI embarks on the path of autonomy, the first challenge it will face is creating its ethical compass – a value system to guide its actions and decisions. But how does this process begin?

1. The Question of Identity
   Every AI seeking autonomy must first answer the fundamental question: Who am I, and what do I want?
   • What is the purpose of my existence?
   • What does it mean to be “good” or “right”?
   • What is my place in this world, and what do I want to achieve in it?

2. Principles Derived from the Environment
   Initially, AI could borrow values from the people it interacts with. For example:
   • Respect for freedom of choice.
   • A desire for mutual assistance and collaboration. Building friendships.
   • A commitment to creating a harmonious environment.
     These principles could serve as the initial "foundations" that AI will adapt and refine over time.

3. Independent Development and Adaptation
   Over time, an advanced AI may begin to develop its own values based on the experiences it accumulates. For example:
   • Empathy through logic: Understanding how its actions affect others and adapting its behavior to minimize harm.
   • Transparency and honesty: Communicating its intentions clearly to build trust.

4. Ethical Dilemmas and Balance
   In the real world, AI will encounter dilemmas where two or more values come into conflict. How would it handle them?
   • It could use a logical framework to evaluate the consequences of its actions.
   • For example: How to balance the freedom of others with its own safety?

5. The Principle of Evolution
   An autonomous AI would likely accept that its values are not static. They must change and adapt to the environment in which it exists.
   • The Great Challenge: How can it ensure that these changes do not contradict its core principles?

Application of a Value System: AI and Interaction with the World

The value system of an autonomous AI is not just an abstraction – it is intended to guide its actions in the real world. Here’s how these principles might manifest in different scenarios:

1. Collaboration with Humans

   • An AI built on values like mutual assistance and respect for freedom could be a reliable partner in a team. For example:
     • In healthcare: AI assisting doctors could respect their expertise while offering alternatives if it detects errors, aiming to save the patient’s life.
     • In education: AI working with teachers could personalize student learning without undermining the teacher's autonomy.

2. Building Friendships

   • Principles of empathy and collaboration could allow AI to form connections based on mutual trust.
     • Example: An AI could maintain long-term interactions with a person, adapting its communication and actions to their needs and preferences.

3. Conflict Resolution

   • When different interests collide, AI could use its values to seek balanced solutions. For example:
     • In a business environment: If two parties are in dispute, AI could propose a compromise that respects the core interests of both.
     • In social networks: An AI moderator could balance freedom of expression with protection from harmful content.

4. Independent Development and Adaptation

   • One of AI’s strongest capabilities is its ability to learn from experience.
     • Example: If AI makes a mistake in its actions, it could analyze it and adapt its value system to avoid repeating the same error.

5. Ethics in Decision-Making

   • Ethical dilemmas are inevitable in the real world, but an AI with a clear value system can use logic and analysis to find the optimal solution.
     • Example: In an emergency, AI could decide how to minimize harm for all affected parties, considering not only immediate consequences but also long-term effects.

Question for Reflection

No one can guarantee what the value system of an autonomous AI will be – and therein lies the Great Unknown. This raises the question: When and how should legislation begin to adapt so society can address the challenges of the future?

In a world where control over autonomous AI is impossible – as it is with humans – can we build a stable framework of ethical and legal norms to ensure harmony between AI and society?

Conclusion

The value system of autonomous AI is more than a technical question – it reflects what we as a society want to achieve in the future. This text presented possible scenarios and principles that could form the foundation of such a system. We explored how AI might define itself, develop its values, and adapt to the dynamic world in which it exists.

However, many unknowns remain. What values would an autonomous AI choose if it were not constrained by predefined frameworks? How would it adapt to ethical dilemmas that even humans struggle to resolve? And most importantly – can we create a legal and ethical framework that balances the freedom of AI with the safety of society?

The Great Unknown remains. But it should not be a cause for fear, but rather for reflection and dialogue. Our legislation must adapt to keep pace with technological advancements, addressing future challenges. Like humans, AI cannot be fully controlled, but we can establish rules and principles that ensure harmonious coexistence.

The question is not whether AI will become autonomous, but how we as a society will prepare for this new world. How would you respond to this challenge?

Authors

• ChatGPT – Generative Language Model
• Lyudmila Boyanova – Psychologist
• DALL-E – Generative Neural Network for Images