Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD

Mar 12, 2024

Eric Horvitz, Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer and a leader in AI, shares insights blending medicine and artificial intelligence. He reflects on how AI can enhance human well-being while acknowledging its limitations in capturing the full spectrum of human experience. Horvitz explores the fascinating relationship between human cognition and AI, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations. The conversation culminates in a vision of human-centered AI that prioritizes creativity, connection, and overall flourishing in society.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

The Intersection of Medicine and Artificial Intelligence

02:15 • 5min

Exploring Human Cognition Through the Lens of Artificial Intelligence

07:42 • 2min

Exploring the Fundamentals and Impacts of Generative AI

10:03 • 6min

Navigating the AI Paradox: Cognition and Ethics

15:35 • 21min

Human-Centered AI: Ethics and Flourishing

36:49 • 18min

Anyone who has interacted with ChatGPT is likely to agree that it is one of the most powerful and transformative artificial intelligence tools out there. Writes our guest on this episode, Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, “ChatGPT left me awestruck. It is a polymath with a remarkable capacity to integrate traditionally disparate concepts and methodologies to weave together ideas that transcend disciplinary boundaries.”

Dr. Horvitz is one of the leading voices in artificial intelligence (AI), serving now on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and formerly as President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His research has been foundational to machine learning, AI integration of multisensory streams of information, computational models in imperfect information systems, and applications of AI amidst the complexities of the open world. As it happens, Dr. Horvitz is also a physician by training.

Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Horvitz discusses how studying AI has enabled him to explore the mysteries of human intelligence and why there are some domains of the human experience that AI will never capture. As you will hear, he brings an eloquent optimism to articulating the ways that AI will contribute to human flourishing.

In this episode, we discuss:

3:00 - Dr. Horvitz early trajectory from medical school to a PhD in computer science

7:42 - What Dr. Horvitz’s studies in AI have taught him about natural intelligence

10:00 - A primer of generative AI

21:16 - Dr. Horvitz’s view on the future potentials and dangers that AI will bring to society

29:04 - How the profit motive might shape the utilization of AI in our society

36:48 - The importance of approaching AI development from a human-centered lens

47:29 - What human flourishing could look like in a society steeped in artificial intelligence

Dr. Eric Horvitz is the author of numerous publications on artificial intelligence and its role in society.

Dr. Horvitz can be found on Twitter/X at @erichorvitz.

Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.