Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology
Mar 28, 2024
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Brendan McCord, Founder of Cosmos Institute, explores AI & philosophy, AI schools of thought, existential risks, adaptive systems, & the philosophy-to-code pipeline. Discusses open-source tech, US-China situation, automation vs. augmentation, Russian realism, and cinematic visions of the future. Delve into the importance of understanding unintended consequences in complex systems and the intersection of science fiction and Russian realism in literature.
Bridging AI and philosophy through Cosmos Institute's mission.
Integrating philosophical principles into technological ethics and software development.
Promoting cognitive diversity and open-source collaboration for innovative technological solutions.
Deep dives
The Cosmos Institute and the Intersection of AI and Philosophy
The creation of the Cosmos Institute stemmed from Brendan McCord's reflection on the intersection of AI and philosophy. After selling two AI companies, McCord delved into philosophy to bridge the gap between public improvement aspirations and intellectual grounding. His journey led him to establish the Cosmos Institute to address the intellectual debate within the AI community.
Philosophy's Role in Guiding Technology Ethics
The podcast delves into how philosophical ideas translate into math algorithms and open-source software to guide ethical technological development. The focus on individual human agency, reason, and freedom underscores the importance of creating software that reflects philosophical principles. Initiatives like translating Aristotle's philosophy into technology ethics epitomize the Cosmos Institute's mission to integrate philosophy and technological innovation.
Navigating Complex Adaptive Systems like Markets
Jim O'Shaughnessy discusses complex adaptive systems like markets, emphasizing the importance of cognitive diversity and open-source approaches. The interplay of cognitive diversity in open-source software leads to better outcomes by harnessing a diverse range of perspectives. His pragmatic approach suggests that while closed systems have a place, open-source collaborative efforts foster innovation through varied viewpoints.
Lessons from Nature for Technological Innovation
Analogies drawn from nature, such as the immune system's response to novel threats and the principles of swarms, inform strategies for technological innovation. Learning from nature's adaptive systems can guide approaches in solving top-down problems through partial solutions tailored to specific challenges. Insights from scholars like Eleanor Ostrum and James Buchanan highlight the wisdom of laying down abstract rules to foster spontaneous emergent properties in societal and technological developments.
Bargaining for Better Rules and the Importance of Computation in Feedback Loops
Making tweaks to lay down rules based on empirics and then evaluating them metaphorically and empirically leads to better outcomes. Computation enables a loopback to improve constitutional rules.
Open Source, AI Security, and the Benefits of Open Source Innovation
Debates around the risk of open source highlight the importance of innovation and the potential benefits of open source for global progress. Despite concerns raised about security in AI development, embracing open source fosters knowledge sharing and technological advancement, benefiting humanity's overall development.
Brendan McCord is the founder of Cosmos Institute — a non-profit dedicated to exploring the intersection of AI and philosophy.
Brendan joins the show to discuss Cosmos’ origins, the pursuit of philosophy as a technologist, the different schools of thought in AI, complex adaptive systems and MUCH more!
