AI Ethicists Intensify Criticism of AGI Hype and Machine Morality Claims

Leading AI ethics expert Dr. Dorothea Baur recently amplified critical perspectives on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) discourse, particularly challenging the notion of "morality as a machine-learning problem." In a social media post, Dr. Baur quoted prominent researcher Alex Hanna, stating, > "Every time we reach the summit of bullshit mountain, we discover there’s worse to come," a direct critique of inflated claims within the AI industry. The tweet further highlighted a "startup guy's" assertion that > “Morality is best thought of as a machine-learning problem,” which Dr. Baur presented as a quintessential example of the problematic views she opposes.

Alex Hanna, Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), is a vocal critic of techno-solutionism and the uncritical adoption of AI technologies. Her work consistently emphasizes the sociotechnical aspects of AI, arguing against the idea that AI can solve complex human problems, especially those involving ethics, without significant human oversight and understanding of social nuances. Hanna's "bullshit mountain" metaphor reflects a long-standing critique of exaggerated promises and speculative claims prevalent in the tech sector, particularly concerning AGI's imminent arrival and capabilities.

The concept of reducing morality to a machine-learning problem faces substantial opposition from ethicists and AI researchers alike. Critics argue that human morality is inherently nuanced, context-dependent, and deeply subjective, involving empathy, cultural specificities, and emotional intelligence that current AI systems lack. Delegating complex ethical judgments to machines risks simplifying profound moral questions and could lead to biased or unjust outcomes, as the "morality" learned by AI would inevitably reflect the biases present in its training data or the limited perspectives of its creators.

Dr. Dorothea Baur, an independent ethics and AI expert with a background in philosophy and business ethics, frequently advises organizations on the ethical implications of new technologies. Her public commentary often challenges simplistic narratives about AI's capabilities and its role in society, advocating for a more nuanced and ethically informed approach to technological progress. Her tweet underscores a growing academic and expert consensus pushing back against what some term the "AGI cult," which they argue distracts from real-world AI harms and misallocates resources based on speculative future technologies.