AI: Questions of Power, Purpose and Humanity

Jacinta Van Hecke of the Catholic Herald suggests breaking down discussions about artificial intelligence into specific categories to avoid confusion. She notes that conversations often jump between different topics, making the subject difficult to navigate.

Van Hecke distinguishes between the capabilities of AI and the power it offers. The capabilities of AI include its potential for both beneficial, humanizing uses and destructive or dangerous applications. She notes that these capabilities range from the errors found in free versions of ChatGPT to reports of rogue AI agents.

The category of power focuses on how the magnitude of AI capabilities affects the power dynamics of people who use the technology. Van Hecke argues that these shifts in power apply to daily life and are distinct from the technical functions of the software itself.