On Wisdom 63: The AI Mirror: Why Machines Reflect Us More Than They Think (with Shannon Vallor)
Feb 23, 2025
Shannon Vallor, a philosophy professor specializing in AI ethics, joins the discussion to examine whether AI can truly reflect human wisdom or merely mirrors our data. She argues that wisdom should be defined as moral understanding guided by values, rejecting the idea of 'evil wisdom.' Shannon warns about the pressures of corporate incentives that undermine ethical decision-making and suggests that technology should support human flourishing. Ultimately, she critiques current AI's role, asserting it should embody virtues, not just values.
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Aim To Become, Not Accumulate
- Cultivate an evolving sense of the person you want to become rather than focusing on possessions.
- This habit builds resilience and steadier happiness against life's uncertainties.
Fix Incentives To Grow Wisdom
- Change social incentives in education, law, and economics to cultivate wisdom.
- Reform institutions so long-term, pro-social choices are rewarded, not punished.
Incentives Shape Tech Ethics
- Institutional incentives, not individual malice, drive unethical tech decisions.
- Corporate structures often force employees to suppress pro-social judgment.
