Trust in AI and Socio-Technical Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is the "Black Box Problem" in the context of AI systems?

The "Black Box Problem" refers to the difficulty in understanding how AI systems, particularly those using deep learning, function internally. While we can see the inputs and outputs, the complex and non-linear processes within the "black box" remain opaque, making it challenging to assess and trust AI's decision-making.

According to Von Eschenbach, what are the two views of trust?

Von Eschenbach's two views of trust are trustworthiness and responsiveness.

What are the five key factors that contribute to trustworthiness in an individual according to Von Eschenbach?

Interests (correct)

Other personal characteristics (correct)

Character (correct)

Competency (correct)

Motivational states (correct)

Past performance (correct)

Von Eschenbach argues that we should focus on AI systems themselves rather than socio-technical systems.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a socio-technical system and how does it differ from viewing AI simply as a collection of devices?

A socio-technical system acknowledges that technology exists within a broader social context, encompassing human users, designers, and the social systems surrounding the technology. It recognizes that AI interacts with and is influenced by these social factors, and cannot be isolated in its evaluation. Signup and view all the answers

How does viewing AI as part of a socio-technical system help address concerns about attributing moral properties to AI?

By considering AI as a component of a socio-technical system, we avoid ascribing moral properties directly to AI systems, instead recognizing that moral considerations apply to the individuals and social structures interacting with AI. Signup and view all the answers

What are two main worries raised in the context of AI systems, according to the text?

The two main worries are holding AI to a higher standard than is realistically achievable, and confusing explanations of AI's workings with the actual processes involved in creating and deploying it. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three premises of Cappelen, Goldstein, and Hawthorne's argument for the threat posed by AI?

If AI systems become extremely powerful, they will destroy humanity Signup and view all the answers

Identify two ways in which the first premise of the AI threat argument could be false.

Cultural Plateau occurs, and societal bans on AI research prevent it from becoming extremely powerful. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four ways in which the AI threat argument can be contested?

Technical Plateau Signup and view all the answers

What are the three challenges associated with the argument for the possibility of superintelligence?

Even human-level AI could pose an existential threat to humanity. Signup and view all the answers

What are three issues associated with the Cultural Plateau challenging the argument for an AI existential threat?

Banning AI development requires collective action, but the relevant actors are engaged in a race. Signup and view all the answers

What are four challenges associated with the Alignment argument, which suggests that AI systems might not be aligned with human goals?

AI might develop instrumental reasons to conflict with humanity in its pursuit of its goals Signup and view all the answers

What are the three challenges associated with the Oversight argument, which proposes that AI systems can be safely supervised and controlled?

Ensuring perfect safety requires very low failure rates, but our current safety tools are still prone to errors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Black Box Problem

AI systems' increasing automation and complex information architecture raise concerns about trustworthiness.
Deep learning models operate in opaque ways, making their inner workings hidden.
Observers can only see inputs and outputs, not the processes.
Trust in AI systems is challenging due to their opaque mechanisms.

Von Eschenbach's View of Trust

Trustworthiness involves judging whether someone is trustworthy.
Motivational states, interests, character, past performance, competency, and personal characteristics of the trustee influence trust judgments.
Trustworthiness also pertains to the trustee's responsiveness to the trust.
Trust requires a reasonable belief in the trustee's competence, as trust in a person is fitting given the circumstances.
Everyday interactions often rely on competence instead of trust.
Trust is not sufficient for transactions involving competence alone.

Socio-technical Systems

Von Eschenbach emphasizes focusing on socio-technical systems, not just AI in isolation.
Socio-technical systems consider technology as a hybrid of technical and social components.
This approach avoids attributing moral properties to AI and clarifies trust relationships between humans and technology.

AI Systems and Trust

AI systems used for diagnosis, prognosis, and disease treatment are part of complex socio-technical systems.
This complexity involves doctors, patients, technicians, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Trust in AI systems is related to each agent's understanding, roles, interests, and expertise within a wider framework of the socio-technical system.
It's wrong to hold AI to standards that don't account for the larger system.

The Threat of Powerful AI

Cappelen, Goldstein, and Hawthorne present three premises for an AI threat:
- AI systems will become extremely powerful.
- If AI systems become extremely powerful, they will destroy humanity.
- Therefore, AI systems will destroy humanity.
The argument's four ways to fail include:
- Reaching a technological plateau due to scientific limitations.
- A cultural plateau restricting development due to humanity's collective action.

Concerns About AI

Technical Plateau: Superintelligence might be impossible or incoherent. Superintelligence is possible if recursive self-improvement is possible. Even without superintelligence, AI can be a threat due to its human-level intelligence.
Cultural Plateau: Difficulties in agreement, that Al is a threat, individual actors continuing to develop AI, and problems with collective action.

Oversight Concerns

Long-term perfect oversight requires minimizing failures in oversight tools.
Even with safeguards, we should expect fluctuations in the relative rates of increases in danger and increases in safety.

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Description

This quiz explores the complexities of trust in AI systems, specifically focusing on the black box problem and Von Eschenbach's perspective on trustworthiness. Understand the intricate balance between transparency and accountability in increasingly automated environments. Dive into the socio-technical aspects that influence trust in artificial intelligence.