Kailash Satyarthi's column: How much understanding of humanity do those who crafted AI have?

The most important question of our time is no longer whether AI will change our world. That's what he's already done. But now the world needs a 'moral-compass' (moral guideline) for this technology. With this thinking, I spoke about 'Compassionate AI' in front of more than 12,000 delegates from 170 countries at the AI for Good Global Summit held in Geneva. If we really want AI to contribute to the broader public good, not just a means of profit and power, we should send AI engineers and developers out of their labs for a month. They should meet children working in mines and factories, meet families displaced by conflicts, and spend time among vulnerable communities facing poverty, discrimination and social exclusion. They should walk with those whose lives are affected more by injustice than by technology. Even just a month of such experience can change a person's thinking and will affect the direction in which developers take this technology. AI is already reshaping education, healthcare, business, governance, and research. But every technological revolution is also a moral test, and AI is no exception. The biggest danger we face today is that we are forgetting the most important question. And that is, for whose service is this intelligence? It is true that most of the discussions in global forums are already focused on concepts such as ethical AI and responsible AI, but we need better governance, meaningful accountability and effective regulation. Morality can tell us what is right. Laws can set boundaries, but they can't change the thinking of those who are creating technologies that affect the lives of billions of people. It requires a deeper object, and that is compassion. Compassion is often thought of as synonymous with empathy, kindness, or benevolence. But it is not synonymous with any of these nor is it merely a sentiment or an abstract moral ideal. Compassion begins when we accept another person's suffering as our own. It is this feeling that motivates us to take steps to alleviate his suffering. It also involves the courage to take action. Compassion leads us not only to make systems more efficient, but also to protect human dignity. Compassionate AI is different from other frameworks because it starts with humanity, not technology. Before asking what a system can do, Compassionate AI asks what it works for. It considers its human consequences before achieving greater efficiency. Before celebrating innovation, it asks if anyone will be left behind. Today, many of the failures of AI, such as bias, discrimination, exclusion, misinformation, environmental damage, and threats to the well-being of children, are often presented as unfortunate side effects of progress. But these are not the only side effects. They are also evidence that when these systems were developed, there was no one or the other who spoke of the interest of humanity, he was ignored or ignored. Children growing up today will likely spend more time with intelligent machines than their parents, teachers, or neighbors. We have already understood the negative effects of social media. So instead of asking how AI can change the economy, we should ask what the consequences will be when algorithms replace the human ability to feel another person's suffering. If they were never prepared to recognize suffering, would they be able to defend justice? If their goal is only to increase profits, will they be able to insist on peace? These ethical questions must be asked before technical questions, as they can shape the future of humanity. AI developers must come out of their labs to meet children working in mines and factories, meet displaced families, and spend time among vulnerable communities facing poverty, discrimination, social exclusion. (@प्रोजेक्ट Syndicate)