'Singular Minds' returns, the podcast that explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence on society
CiTIUS presents the second season of its most iconic podcast with a first episode that unites the voices of Philosophy, Religion, and Science.
'Singular Minds', the podcast designed and produced entirely at CiTIUS (Center for Research in Intelligent Technologies at the University of Santiago de Compostela), kicks off its second season with a deep and interdisciplinary conversation about artificial intelligence (AI), its ethical, social, and human implications, and the growing concern around its potentials and risks. In this first episode, the scientific director of CiTIUS, Senén Barro, moderates a new debate featuring two exceptional guests: Daniel Innerarity, Professor of Political Philosophy and Ikerbasque researcher at the University of the Basque Country, and Monsignor Francisco José Prieto, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela.
Throughout this first encounter, titled "Why Do We Care So Much About AI?", various key points are addressed regarding the advantages and potential risks that AI may have on society, reflecting on issues like those highlighted by the Catholic Church itself in a recently published document, warning of "the danger of turning the human being into a slave of his own creation." A statement that also evokes the well-known warning made by physicist Stephen Hawking in his day regarding advances in AI: "Creating Artificial Intelligence may be the greatest historical achievement of humanity. But it may also be the last, if we fail to avoid its risks."
From the perspective of philosophy and an extensive background in the study of democracy as a form of government, Professor Daniel Innerarity emphasized the number of "fascinating enigmas" and matters at stake presented by Artificial Intelligence, which has even now "questioned central ideas about intelligence, equality, and human automation." The philosopher proposed a critical and balanced view that avoids both technological determinism and alarmist positions, highlighting the importance of considering the complementarity between humans and machines.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Prieto, emphasized the importance of any technological development for the Catholic Church because "it challenges us about how it can help us and how it can affect us; ultimately, it remains the ethical question about the person." In this regard, he particularly highlighted that "if the person ceases to be the protagonist involving their freedom, creativity, and responsibility, we may have unwanted results."
Senén Barro also warned about critical aspects often ignored in public debate, such as misinformation, increasing inequalities, and what he called "cognitive delegation," warning of the danger of humans losing their most singular capabilities by unconsciously ceding them to machines.
The encounter, lasting just under an hour, also served to debate crucial globally important issues such as job automation, the possibility of machines with their own consciousness, the delegation of judicial decisions to algorithms, and the ethical limits of AI use in sensitive areas like medicine, religion, or justice.
With this new installment of 'Singular Minds', a format conceived as a video podcast and also distributed in audio format through major audio podcast platforms, CiTIUS (a research center co-funded by the European Union through the Galicia Feder Program 2021-2027) reinforces its commitment to generating clear and accessible reflections on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue that enables a better understanding of this technology and guides its development towards the service of human beings and society.
'Singular Minds', the podcast designed and produced entirely at CiTIUS (Center for Research in Intelligent Technologies at the University of Santiago de Compostela), kicks off its second season with a deep and interdisciplinary conversation about artificial intelligence (AI), its ethical, social, and human implications, and the growing concern around its potentials and risks. In this first episode, the scientific director of CiTIUS, Senén Barro, moderates a new debate featuring two exceptional guests: Daniel Innerarity, Professor of Political Philosophy and Ikerbasque researcher at the University of the Basque Country, and Monsignor Francisco José Prieto, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela.
Throughout this first encounter, titled "Why Do We Care So Much About AI?", various key points are addressed regarding the advantages and potential risks that AI may have on society, reflecting on issues like those highlighted by the Catholic Church itself in a recently published document, warning of "the danger of turning the human being into a slave of his own creation." A statement that also evokes the well-known warning made by physicist Stephen Hawking in his day regarding advances in AI: "Creating Artificial Intelligence may be the greatest historical achievement of humanity. But it may also be the last, if we fail to avoid its risks."
From the perspective of philosophy and an extensive background in the study of democracy as a form of government, Professor Daniel Innerarity emphasized the number of "fascinating enigmas" and matters at stake presented by Artificial Intelligence, which has even now "questioned central ideas about intelligence, equality, and human automation." The philosopher proposed a critical and balanced view that avoids both technological determinism and alarmist positions, highlighting the importance of considering the complementarity between humans and machines.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Prieto, emphasized the importance of any technological development for the Catholic Church because "it challenges us about how it can help us and how it can affect us; ultimately, it remains the ethical question about the person." In this regard, he particularly highlighted that "if the person ceases to be the protagonist involving their freedom, creativity, and responsibility, we may have unwanted results."
Senén Barro also warned about critical aspects often ignored in public debate, such as misinformation, increasing inequalities, and what he called "cognitive delegation," warning of the danger of humans losing their most singular capabilities by unconsciously ceding them to machines.
The encounter, lasting just under an hour, also served to debate crucial globally important issues such as job automation, the possibility of machines with their own consciousness, the delegation of judicial decisions to algorithms, and the ethical limits of AI use in sensitive areas like medicine, religion, or justice.
With this new installment of 'Singular Minds', a format conceived as a video podcast and also distributed in audio format through major audio podcast platforms, CiTIUS (a research center co-funded by the European Union through the Galicia Feder Program 2021-2027) reinforces its commitment to generating clear and accessible reflections on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue that enables a better understanding of this technology and guides its development towards the service of human beings and society.
