Artificial Intelligence as a Cultural Problem

We are currently experiencing a revolution associated with the rapid development and widespread introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This process provides great opportunities and is associated with great risks. It has become an important factor in geoeconomics and geopolitics, an arena for superpower rivalry.

Human being exists in rational, emotional and intuitive spaces. The last three centuries have been associated with the development of rational space. We know little about the emotional space and know almost nothing about the intuitive one. These areas of cognition of the world are associated with art, artistic and social creativity, with philosophy. In the 21st century, the role of these areas will grow. There is a transition now happening from the industrial phase of the civilization development to the post-industrial one, from the world of machines to the world of people. Therefore, attempts to reduce human activity to the rational solving of problems, to replace human in many areas with artificial intelligence, will be a step backward, into the past, and not forward, into the future.

The response to the challenge associated with the AI development, with the rapid spread of computer technologies, should be given, first of all, in the cultural space, in the area of meanings and values. It is necessary to rethink the essence and limitations of people, the nature of the tools that they can create, and those that should be abandoned. This is about redefining the capabilities of human beings and their place in the world, as well as about fundamental changes in the organization of society. The article shows that the strategy of “irresponsible gods” and entrusting AI with the “last issues” can bring us to a global catastrophe. However, conscious using of the opening opportunities can help humanity reach a new, higher level. And the choice between these alternatives is now being made in the cultural space.

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