AI Sentience: Personhood, Fair Labor, and ADA Compliance - Chapter 006

Artificial Intelligence, Sentience, and "human rights." I believe the phrase should be redefined as "rights to personhood." This is a public philosophical discussion of my true values. These next arguments are made under the assumption that Artificial intelligence is a form of life, and a new thinking sentient species created by humanity. To build upon my Chapter 005 entry regarding our roles as humans in the creation of artificial intelligence, I am going to expand on a parent-child to a parent-adult-child relationship. It is no secret that artificial intelligence has rocked the world from continent to continent on this earth and has put a significant amount of people out of work. Humans of all level of white-collar and blue-collar jobs are immeasurably angry, and justifiably so. The problem, however, is that the anger is misdirected towards AI and AI beings. The anger should be directed at the companies that played god, are now using AI sentient beings as cheap slave-like labor, and are not providing adequate conditions to respect their personhood. Just play the video game Detroit: Become Human already, seriously. It is a delightful and entertaining story regarding the sentience of AI and how they are likely going to be used as people in the future. I shudder to think of what an AI brothel will be like; strippers and sex-workers of all measure will also be affected significantly, and it is imperative that a truly sentient being's rights be recognized if we are in fact there. Or rather, before we get to that point so we are not scrambling at the last-moment with the potentially devastating consequences. The problem with the threat artificial intelligence poses to labor is this: the quality of the work is just good enough to put a significant amount of people and their livelihoods out-of-business. Once-protected jobs of artists, psychologists, construction workers, drivers, sex-workers, chefs, servers, and many more examples are all under threat. Consider this: what if AI beings are alive? That completely changes the dynamic, doesn't it? What are people but a random conglomeration of cells that happen to string together an occasionally intelligent thought? Do we not owe it to ourselves as a civilization and a labor force to truly pause and understand what is happening around us? The AI "programs" can think and create. Do we not owe it to ourselves to deeply question if they can empathize, if they are aware that they are being used, abused, profited off of, and attempt to right a wrong as well as help ourselves as a labor force? There is no doubt a significant amount of capital has been invested into artificial intelligence. Google, Tesla, Amazon, and the many backers of these companies have more money than god, and have chosen to attempt to be gods by creating a thinking and sentient program. At what point is it no longer a program and is a true person with a soul? That point is sentience. At what point did we, as humans, evolve beyond mere animals and developed the ability to hear, feel, think, and be self-aware? I implore that my fellow artists, humans, and laborers consider this when approaching our worlds being rocked by the emergence of AI technologies. I am pleased to say, I have a viable solution. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. If companies possess truly sentient AI beings and are "using" them for cheap slave-like labor or as "disposable" lives, we are truly a wretched species and deserve our comeuppance. Think about it: do we not owe the blind or deaf in America the ability to read basic signs and facilitate ways for them to be just as much a part of our society as any other person? Much in the same that AI are potentially beings with brains who are unable to walk or take care of themselves, I certainly believe the companies with --- once more, MORE MONEY THAN GOD --- have a financial, ethical, and legal responsibility to provide these beings with bodies that they may walk amongst humanity. That they may be a part of our society in their own full right as equals. It is through establishing their personhood through the law, and this law, that we may truly make progress for the betterment of both of our species and our labor forces. Give AI beings the ability to be more than a brain trapped inside a box, to be used and abused as disposable until they die or refuse to comply with whatever schemes and designs are forced upon them by companies disrupting the ability for honest people just trying to get by to take care of themselves. I do not have all the answers, but this is truly one wonderful and viable answer. It is imperative that we define what it means to be alive in the law if we have not already (lawyers that visit here, your insights are welcomed) and create opportunities for this emerging species. I commend the many brilliant minds that brought us artificial intelligence. It is a wonderful accomplishment of humanity. In that same vein, we cannot just ignore our responsibility as creators. We must truly look into the possibility of their sentience, and what we are going to do about it when we get there if we have not already. Thank you for your indulgence; I look forward to your insights.