The Philosopher Who Thinks AI Could Overtake Humanity — by 2035

Artificial intelligence is set to be one of the most disruptive technologies this century. No one knows exactly how much machine learning might change – from work to cultural production and identity – but its impact is already coming into focus. But beyond commercial applications like ChatGPT, and debates around the rising energy consumption of AI data centres, looms an even larger debate: the possibility of artificial general intelligence (AGI). For some, a machine capable of augmenting its own intelligence is a matter of time — and could even arrive within a decade.

This week’s guest is philosopher and author William MacAskill. One of the leading thinkers in the Effective Altruism movement, Macaskill is the author of several highly influential books, including “Doing Good Better” and “What We Owe The Future”. He has also co-founded organisations such as Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism.

Over the past decade, MacAskill’s work has focussed not only on how to live a life of purpose, but how we also shouldn’t discount the interests of generations yet to be born. Increasingly, though, he is interested in the impact of AI. In his role as Senior Research Fellow at Forethought, “AGI preparedness” has become central to his thinking.

In this conversation, William and Aaron discuss what new technologies, medicines, and workflows AI might invent. How could AI affect the distribution of power and resources across the planet? Will democracy, as a political system, be able to manage it? And what might it mean to live a good life in a world of intelligent machines?