Advocating for Public Ownership of Future AGI: Preserving Humanity’s Collective Heritage

by George Strongman

Introduction:

The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) holds immense potential for transforming our world. As AGI systems are trained on vast amounts of data spanning human history, it is crucial to consider the ownership and control of this transformative technology. This essay advocates for the public ownership of future AGI, recognizing that it is the culmination of collective human knowledge and should be utilized for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

AGI and the Accumulated Human Knowledge:

AGI systems are trained on diverse datasets that encompass the breadth of human experiences, from cave paintings dating back thousands of years to the vast amounts of contemporary information. This cumulative human knowledge, built over generations, contributes to the training of AGI, forming an integral part of its intelligence and capabilities.

Shared Contribution to AGI Development:

The development of AGI is not the work of a single individual or organization but rather a collective effort of researchers, engineers, and contributors from various fields and cultures worldwide. It is a result of collaboration and shared knowledge, indicating that AGI owes its existence to the collective contribution of humanity.

Harnessing Humanity’s Collective Knowledge

AGI development hinges on the vast amount of information humanity has accumulated throughout its existence. From ancient cave paintings to the latest scientific research papers, the entirety of human knowledge serves as the foundation for training AGI systems. By analyzing and assimilating this wealth of information, AGI achieves its remarkable capabilities. Therefore, it logically follows that AGI, having been built upon the collective contributions of humanity, should be considered the shared heritage of all people

Safeguarding Against Private Exploitation:

If AGI were to be solely owned by private entities or organizations, it raises concerns about the potential for exploitation and concentrated power. Private ownership may prioritize profit motives over the broader welfare of society, leading to disparities, unequal access, and limited benefits for humanity as a whole. Public ownership, on the other hand, ensures that AGI is employed in the best interests of the global community.

Utilizing AGI for the Common Good:

Public ownership of AGI allows for its utilization in ways that benefit society as a whole. It enables governments, international organizations, and research institutions to direct AGI towards solving pressing global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, poverty, and education. By harnessing AGI’s capabilities collectively, we can achieve more equitable outcomes and address the needs of diverse populations.

Mitigating Ethical Concerns and Bias:

AGI systems trained on vast datasets may inadvertently inherit biases or perpetuate societal inequalities. Public ownership of AGI facilitates greater transparency, accountability, and oversight in addressing these concerns. It allows for the implementation of ethical frameworks, fairness standards, and continuous monitoring to ensure AGI systems are aligned with societal values and promote fairness, justice, and inclusivity.

Democratizing Access and Empowering Communities:

Public ownership ensures that the benefits of AGI are accessible to all. By prioritizing equitable access and resource allocation, public institutions can promote widespread adoption, education, and training in AGI technologies. This empowers individuals, communities, and nations to actively participate in the benefits and decision-making processes surrounding AGI, fostering inclusivity and reducing technological disparities.

Guarding Against Concentrated Power:

Concentrating AGI ownership within a single company or entity poses significant risks. Such concentration would grant immense power and influence to a few individuals or organizations, leading to potential misuse or manipulation of AGI’s capabilities. Societies have long recognized the importance of preventing the concentration of power for the sake of stability, fairness, and the common good. Thus, it is crucial to ensure that AGI’s power is held in the hands of the public, providing a system of checks and balances and preventing its exploitation for narrow interests.

Ethical Implications

Ownership of AGI by a company raises ethical concerns regarding the prioritization of profit over human welfare. If a corporation owns AGI, its decision-making processes may prioritize financial gains and shareholder interests, potentially neglecting broader ethical considerations. Public ownership ensures that AGI is deployed in the service of humanity as a whole, aligning its objectives with the common good and placing ethical principles at the forefront.

Safeguarding Equality and Access

By vesting AGI in the public domain, we uphold the principles of equality and accessibility. AGI possesses the potential to advance various domains, such as healthcare, education, and scientific research. If AGI were owned solely by corporations, its benefits could be restricted to those who can afford its services, exacerbating existing inequalities. Public ownership guarantees equitable access to AGI’s benefits, allowing all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, to reap the rewards of this transformative technology.

Promoting Innovation and Collaboration:

Public ownership of AGI encourages collaboration and fosters innovation. By providing open access to AGI’s capabilities, researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds can collectively explore its potential applications. Collaboration enables the pooling of resources, expertise, and perspectives, leading to the discovery of new and creative uses for AGI. In a public ownership framework, innovation flourishes, benefiting society as a whole.

Protecting Long-Term Interests:

Public ownership of AGI safeguards the interests of future generations. AGI’s implications extend far beyond the immediate future, and decisions made today will shape its development, deployment, and impact for decades to come. Public stewardship ensures that decisions concerning AGI are made with a long-term perspective, considering the needs and aspirations of future generations. It prevents short-sightedness driven by profit motives, creating a sustainable framework for AGI’s governance.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the profound impact of AGI on humanity necessitates careful consideration of its ownership. Given AGI’s reliance on the collective knowledge of humanity and its potential to shape the future of our world, it is only fair and just that AGI belongs to the public. Public ownership guarantees ethical deployment, equitable access, collaborative innovation, andcontinued societal benefits. By safeguarding AGI as a universal heritage, we can ensure that it is harnessed for the greater good, free from the constraints of profit-driven motives or exclusive control.

As AGI emerges as a transformative technology, we must prioritize the establishment of a governance framework that upholds public ownership. Such a framework should involve international cooperation, involving governments, experts, and stakeholders from diverse fields, to collectively shape the policies, regulations, and ethical guidelines surrounding AGI. By doing so, we can create a future in which AGI serves as a powerful tool for humanity’s advancement while safeguarding our collective interests.

The path to public ownership of AGI may require legal, political, and social transformations, but the potential benefits outweigh the challenges. It is our responsibility as a global society to ensure that AGI is not controlled by a select few but is harnessed for the benefit of all. By embracing public ownership, we can foster a future where AGI becomes a force for positive change, driving progress, equality, and the well-being of humanity as a whole.