Lunch Lecture - Marcello Ienca

Human and Artificial Intelligence: Scientific, Ethical and Governance Issues

In the history of planet Earth, humans and other animals have had a monopoly on intelligence. Today, a number of processes typically considered constitutive of intelligence can be executed not only by animals but also by machines. These include the ability to learn from experience, to solve problems, to adapt effectively to the environment, to engage in some form of reasoning and to process large volumes of complex information including visual information and natural language. Consequently, natural intelligence —the intelligence of biological organisms— is no longer the only form of intelligence on the planet, but it is being increasingly accompanied by artificial intelligence (AI): the intelligence of artificial systems. Furthermore, these two "kinds of intelligence" are undergoing a process of hybridisation. Advances in neuroengineering and machine learning are enabling the development of increasingly reliable brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), that can record the neuroelectrical correlates of human intelligence and further analyse them via artificial intelligence. This presentation will discuss the similarities and differences between natural and artificial intelligence, and discuss the promises and challenges associated with their integration. In addition, this presentation will explore the ethical implications of recent advances in neuroscience, AI and neurotechnology, and make some normative suggestions about how to integrate the two intelligences in a manner that preserves fundamental rights and social equality.