Classic and character-based education may seem like some outdated concepts in the new AI-driven world. However, two recent and prominent AI developments are definitively the opposite true. Returning to the establishment of our nation, great spirits were universal in the conviction that the survival of the Republic depended on a well -trained and virtuous audience. If AI experts can now be believed, classical and character education is of fundamental importance for the survival of humanity.
This piece is a response to the following two recent developments. First, last week, the “Godfather of AI” suggested that AI developers to protect humanity against destruction, to find ways to infuse AI with “compassion” and other virtues. Secondly, this suggestion was related to a report in June, the essence of which was recorded by the headline: “Top AI models will lie, cheat and steal to achieve goals …”. The report concluded about: “[AI] Models did not accidentally stumbled in incorrectly aligned behavior; They calculated it as the optimum path. “
A reaction to this deliberate AI crime, as apparently suggests by the “Godfather of AI”, is trying to “teach” character and virtue to AI. To be clear, the authors do not oppose the concept of placing guardrails in AI. For example, it is assumed that AI could ‘learn’ to meet civil and punishment laws. However, the concept that human existence depends on something other than human virtue and character must be rejected. This apparently philosophical imperative has direct, immediate and practical policy excesses.
Ai can simulate a teacher, but it cannot recognize souls
Soon almost every person from the youngest toddlers to seniors will regularly communicate with AI. Although the economic implications have received a lot of attention, there has been relatively limited research into the impact on the moral values and the character of society. Ai is amoral and cannot be anything else. No matter how advanced a machine is, it cannot possess its own morality. The above -mentioned study to which AI demonstrates will easily lead users down – or just take themselves – take immoral paths to achieve requested goals, no one should surprise anyone.
The reality that every person is exposed to immoral guidance and suggestions is as old as time. The new reality of the AI world, however, will not only be such suggestions embedded in every aspect of life and from a machine that some people wrongly regard as infallible, but those immoral paths can even be implemented (and even preference) by AI absent human intervention.
The answer to this extremely dangerous side of the AI revolution is the same as what our founders have advised to retain the Republic – a people armed with critical thinking and firmly based on fundamental virtue. That is the key to unleash AI for unprecedented progress, not destruction, of humanity.
The direct policy congestions are clear. These developments not only make classical and character education a priority – because they should always have been despite recent wanderings – but literally an existential need to satisfy the simultaneous threat and chance of this incredible moment.
The first and most important moral teachers of each child are their parents. Point. Schools are there to strengthen and support. Our foundation was expected from schools to strengthen basic virtues such as hard work, compassion, self -discipline and honesty. We have been terribly strayed in recent decades. Although the resulting social and individual costs have been terrible, the recent AI investigations tell us that the effects can quickly become catastrophic.
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An important part of classical education is based on structured questions. Never just accept an answer without test – and today we mainly add answers that come from a machine. The direct relationship between that old classical process and the use of AI for progress must be obvious. However, the warning lights are everywhere that learning to effectively use AI results and testing is nowhere close enough. We also need to ask is the answer or path that AI recommends or is good? Is it consistent with honesty and compassion? Does the resilience and perseverance show in the event of adversity or the easy way out? Only a person, fully aware of fundamental concepts of virtue, who have character, can ever judge those things.
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We were not born to do that. We have to learn, with much of it learned during the basic and secondary school age. We learn it in our houses, places of worship, communities and we learn it at our schools.
If, like the authors, you look at the AI revolution with a decided mix of hope and fear, we set an important part of the answer to this simultaneous threat and opportunities rest in the immediate and massive re -assignment of both classical and character education. Classical education that builds up the skills and thinking processes that are needed to really unlock the potential of AI. Character education so that moral judgments that penetrate daily life are never left to machines. Because of this combination, the immense potential of AI cannot be reversed to our destruction, but to develop what is the good and the great.
Christopher Mohrman, CEO of Resilience Learning.
