Are we on the verge of an era of incalculable human progress because of the power of AI, or are we threatened with being made obsolete and perhaps extinguished in an age of intelligent machines? In this episode, Robert J. Marks and author Zoltan Istvan debate secular transhumanism and artificial intelligence (AI). Marks argues that AI can never be creative and that it will never understand what it does or possess consciousness. He believes that the danger of AI lies in unintended consequences or malicious human interference. Istvan, on the other hand, sees AI as a potential existential threat to humanity. He believes that AI could become so intelligent that it surpasses human understanding and control. The discussion also touches on topics such as the singularity, AI’s impact on employment, and the potential for AI to be held morally accountable. This debate is hosted by Wesley J. Smith and originally aired on Smith’s Humanize podcast.

Additional Resources

• Wesley J. Smith at Discovery Institute
• Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism
• Wesley Smith’s Humanize Podcast