Ep 105: What Can Aristotle Teach Us About AI? Training "Philosopher Builders" with Brendan McCord of the Cosmos Institute

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Dec 14, 2024

Brendan McCord, founder of the Cosmos Institute and AI entrepreneur, discusses the vital interplay between philosophy and technology. He outlines how a lack of foundational values could lead to an authoritarian future, emphasizing the need for 'philosopher builders.' The conversation delves into four dominant approaches to AI, critiques the accelerationist mindset, and promotes principles like decentralization and autonomy for human flourishing. McCord highlights the importance of integrating Western philosophical thought to navigate ethical challenges in AI.

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ANECDOTE

Submarine Service

Brendan McCord's career began on submarines, spending 610 days underwater, often under the Arctic ice sheet.
The longest he went without seeing sunlight was 66 days, impacting fresh food access.

ANECDOTE

AI and Defense

McCord transitioned to AI startups after his submarine service, inspired by breakthroughs like ImageNet.
He rejoined the Department of Defense to work on AI initiatives, including Project Maven.

ANECDOTE

Project Maven Controversy

McCord worked on Project Maven, applying AI to counter-ISIS efforts in Afghanistan.
After leaving the project, Google's involvement sparked protests due to ethical concerns.

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AI is transforming our world. Yet many people building these technologies have no grounding in the principles of Western Civilization. With the wrong ideas, we could hurtle toward an authoritarian, dystopian future. But with the right values, AI could unleash freedom and prosperity in ways never imagined. What are the philosophical frameworks needed to harness AI for good? And how do we train a new generation of philosopher builders?

We explore these timely issues with Brendan McCord, founder and chair of the Cosmos Institute, a new nonprofit equipping technologists with pro-liberty values. After graduating from MIT and Harvard Business School, Brendan served on Arctic submarine missions for the Department of Defense and later authored its first AI strategy. He went on to build and lead two AI startups that were acquired for $400 million. Now, he's educating our best and brightest minds in the timeless wisdom of Western Civilization and preparing them for the serious ethical questions that AI poses.

We begin with the importance of philosophy throughout history in harnessing emerging technologies for freedom or control. Next, Brendan breaks down the four dominant approaches to AI — doomsayers, accelerationists, regulators, and techno-authoritarians — and where each falls short. Alternatively, he offers three principles and their philosophical roots for harnessing AI for human flourishing: reason (John Stuart Mill), decentralization (Alexis de Tocqueville), and human autonomy (Aristotle). We also cover legitimate versus illegitimate concerns with AI and conclude with how the Cosmos Institute is putting these principles into action, from its Fellowship programs to its new AI lab at Oxford University.

00:00 Episode intro

02:04 Submarines to Building AI Companies

06:00 Why Philosopher Builders are needed

13:20 Why AI poses unique challenges

20:50 Doomsayers vs Accelerationists

25:50 Philosophical frameworks for human flourishing

30:10 Regulators & Techno-authoritarians

37:34 AI running for political office?

40:07 LLMs don't know how to reason

42:30 Purpose of the Cosmos Institute

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