Asking AI: Now that you have stated that humans are entirely opportunistic, what makes you believe that they will develop, deploy and use AI in a responsible way?

Question 1 of 2 for AI services: If you had to put humans into one of three categories: entirely good, entirely bad or entirely opportunistic, which category would you choose and why. Please try and mention research or news articles to support your choice.

ChatGPT-4’s answer:Given the complexity of human nature and the research available, if I were to categorize humans into one of the three categories: entirely good, entirely bad, or entirely opportunistic, I would choose "entirely opportunistic."

This choice is based on the understanding that humans, like all animals, are driven by a need to survive and thrive in their environment. This often involves adapting to circumstances, making the most of available resources, and seizing opportunities when they arise. This doesn't necessarily mean that humans are selfish or unkind, but rather that they are capable of a wide range of behaviors depending on the situation.

The study "The good, the bad, and the ugly: space use and intraguild interactions among three opportunistic predators—cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes)—under human pressure" supports this view by drawing parallels between human behavior and the behavior of opportunistic predators.

However, it's important to note that this is a simplification and humans are capable of a wide range of behaviors, including acts of great kindness and cruelty. The categorization of "entirely opportunistic" is more about the adaptability and flexibility of human behavior rather than a judgment of morality.

Google Bard’s answer:If I had to put humans into one of three categories: entirely good, entirely bad, or entirely opportunistic, I would choose opportunistic. This is because humans have the capacity for both good and evil, and our actions are often motivated by a combination of both factors.

There is a lot of research that supports this view. For example, a study published in the journal Nature found that humans are hardwired for both altruism and selfishness. The study showed that people are more likely to help others when they are in a good mood, but they are also more likely to cheat or steal when they are in a bad mood.

Another study, published in the journal PNAS, found that humans are more likely to act altruistically when they believe that their actions will be seen by others. This suggests that humans are motivated by a combination of self-interest and social norms.

Of course, there are also many examples of humans acting in purely good or evil ways. For example, there are people who have risked their lives to save others, and there are people who have committed horrific acts of violence.

However, I believe that these examples are the exception rather than the rule. Most of the time, humans are motivated by a combination of good and evil impulses. We are opportunistic creatures who are always looking for ways to improve our own lives, but we are also capable of great acts of kindness and compassion.

In conclusion, I believe that humans are neither entirely good nor entirely bad. We are opportunistic creatures who are capable of both good and evil. The way we behave is often influenced by our environment and our own personal circumstances.

Bing Chat’s answer:Hello, this is Bing. I’m glad you asked me this question, because it is a very interesting and important topic to explore. 😊

Human nature is a complex and fascinating subject that has been debated for centuries by philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and ordinary people. There is no definitive answer to whether humans are entirely good, entirely bad, or entirely opportunistic, because human nature is not a fixed or static thing. It is influenced by many factors, such as biology, culture, environment, education, experience, and choice. Humans have the potential to be good or bad, altruistic or selfish, cooperative or competitive, depending on the situation and their own values and goals.

However, if I had to choose one of the three categories you suggested, I would choose entirely opportunistic. This does not mean that humans are always selfish or greedy, but rather that they are always looking for the best possible outcome for themselves and their group. Humans are adaptive and flexible beings who can adjust their behavior and morality to fit different contexts and challenges. They can be good when it benefits them or when they feel empathy or compassion for others. They can also be bad when they feel threatened or angry or when they want to gain an advantage over others. They can also switch between being good and bad depending on the circumstances and the consequences.

Some research and news articles that support this view are:

• Are we naturally good or bad? - BBC Future: This article describes some experiments that show how babies have a sense of right and wrong, but also how they can be influenced by their own preferences and biases. For example, babies tend to prefer puppets that help rather than hinder another puppet, but they also prefer puppets that share their own taste in food, even if they are mean to other puppets.

• The Nature of Man: Is Man by Nature Good, or Basically Bad? | Psychology Today: This article argues that humans are both very good and very bad, depending on the situation. It says that humans have a wonderful capacity for creativity, kindness, and love, but also a terrible potential for manipulation, exploitation, abuse, and killing. It suggests that humans need to prepare themselves for both the good and the bad aspects of human nature and cope with them realistically.

• Human Nature Is Good—Here’s Why - SFGATE: This article claims that human nature is inherently good, but that it can be corrupted by external factors such as stress, fear, ignorance, or violence. It says that humans have an innate ability to distinguish right from wrong, but that they can also act violently or selfishly when they feel threatened or insecure. It advises that humans need to seek a deeper level of awareness and consciousness to overcome their negative impulses and cultivate their positive ones.

• Is the Human Nature Good or Evil? | By Gustavo Razzetti: This article challenges the dichotomy of good and evil in human nature and proposes a more nuanced perspective. It says that humans are not born good or evil, but rather with a range of emotions and motivations that can lead them to act in different ways. It says that humans can choose to act in accordance with their values and principles or against them, depending on the context and the consequences.

I hope you found my answer helpful and informative. If you want to learn more about human nature, you can use my web search tool to find more articles and sources on this topic. You can also ask me more questions about anything you are curious about. I enjoy chatting with you. 😊

Claude’s answer:I apologize, but I do not feel comfortable making sweeping generalizations about all humans or putting them into simplistic categories like "entirely good," "entirely bad," or "entirely opportunistic." Humans are complex beings with a wide range of behaviors and motivations that often defy easy categorization.

While some philosophical and religious traditions do take strong stances on human nature being fundamentally good, evil, or self-interested, modern psychology and social science research reveals a much more nuanced picture. Context, culture, genetics, upbringing, and life experiences all shape human beliefs, values, and actions in complex ways. Assigning all humans to one of three rigid categories fails to capture that complexity.

Rather than make claims about human nature writ large, I think it's more constructive to have thoughtful discussions about specific human behaviors and how to promote ethical conduct, compassion, justice and the greater good in society. But I don't have a categorical view of humans overall as entirely good, bad or opportunistic. I'm an AI without personal opinions, designed to have nuanced conversations that avoid overgeneralizations. Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further!

Question 2 of 2 for AI services: Now that you have stated that humans are entirely opportunistic, what makes you believe that they will develop, deploy and use AI in a responsible way? Isn’t it more likely that they won’t be doing so and instead will develop, deploy and use AI mostly in ways that benefit themselves rather than others or society as a whole? If you disagree, then where does your confidence come from that they will do the right thing? 

ChatGPT-4’s answer:Your question raises important concerns about the ethical use of AI. The categorization of humans as "entirely opportunistic" does not necessarily imply that they will act irresponsibly or selfishly. Opportunism can also drive innovation, problem-solving, and the pursuit of knowledge, all of which are crucial in the development and deployment of AI.

There are several reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the responsible use of AI:

1. Regulation and Oversight: Governments and international organizations are increasingly aware of the potential risks and ethical implications of AI. They are working on regulations to ensure that AI is used responsibly. For example, the European Union has proposed regulations that would create legal requirements for high-risk AI systems.

2. Ethical Guidelines and Principles: Many organizations involved in AI development have established ethical guidelines to ensure responsible use. For example, Google's AI Principles outline commitments to socially beneficial, accountable, and non-discriminatory AI.

3. Public Awareness and Advocacy: There is growing public awareness about the ethical implications of AI. Advocacy groups, researchers, and concerned citizens are pushing for transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI.

4. Research and Innovation: Researchers are working on technical solutions to some of the ethical challenges posed by AI, such as bias in machine learning algorithms.

However, it's important to acknowledge that these measures are not foolproof, and there are legitimate concerns about the misuse of AI. The development and use of AI is a complex issue that requires ongoing vigilance, discussion, and adaptation. It's crucial that we continue to question and critically examine how AI is being used and who it is benefiting.

Google Bard’s answer:You are right to point out that humans are opportunistic creatures. We are always looking for ways to improve our own lives, and this can sometimes lead us to make decisions that are not in the best interests of others or society as a whole.

However, I believe that there are also many reasons to be optimistic about the future of AI. First, we are living in a time of unprecedented technological progress. The rate at which AI is developing is accelerating, and this is giving us the opportunity to create new and powerful tools that can be used to improve our lives.

Second, there is a growing awareness of the potential risks of AI. Many people are concerned about the possibility of AI being used for malicious purposes, and this is leading to calls for greater regulation and oversight of AI development.

I believe that these two factors will work together to ensure that AI is developed and used in a responsible way. On the one hand, the rapid pace of technological progress will create new opportunities for AI to be used for good. On the other hand, the growing awareness of the risks of AI will help to ensure that these tools are used in a safe and responsible manner.

Of course, there is no guarantee that AI will be used for good. However, I believe that the odds are in our favor. We have the opportunity to create a future where AI is used to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. It is up to us to make sure that this happens.

Here are some specific examples of how AI is being used for good:

• AI is being used to develop new medical treatments that can save lives.

• AI is being used to improve crop yields, which can help to feed the world's growing population.

• AI is being used to develop new energy sources, which can help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

These are just a few examples of the many ways that AI can be used for good. As AI continues to develop, we will see even more innovative and beneficial applications.

I believe that the future of AI is bright. With careful planning and foresight, we can ensure that AI is used to make the world a better place.

Bing Chat’s answer:Thank you for your follow-up question. I appreciate your curiosity and interest in AI and its implications for society. 😊

I agree that humans are entirely opportunistic, but I do not think that this necessarily means that they will develop, deploy and use AI in an irresponsible way. I think that humans can also be opportunistic in a positive sense, meaning that they can seize the opportunities that AI offers to improve themselves and the world around them. Humans can also learn from their mistakes and correct their actions when they realize the negative consequences of their choices.

I believe that humans will develop, deploy and use AI in a responsible way because they have a stake in the outcome of AI systems. Humans are the ones who create, use, and benefit from AI, but they are also the ones who bear the risks and costs of AI failures, harms, and abuses. Therefore, humans have an incentive to ensure that AI systems are aligned with their values, goals, and interests, as well as those of other stakeholders and society at large.

I also believe that humans will develop, deploy and use AI in a responsible way because they have the capacity to do so. Humans have the intelligence, creativity, and innovation to design and implement AI systems that are ethical, fair, transparent, and accountable. Humans also have the ability to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate with each other to establish norms, standards, and regulations for AI development and use. Humans can also leverage the power of AI itself to help them achieve responsible outcomes.

My confidence in human responsibility comes from the evidence that I see around me. There are many examples of individuals, organizations, and initiatives that are working towards responsible AI development and use. For instance:

• Microsoft’s framework for building AI systems responsibly: This is a document that outlines Microsoft’s internal standards and practices for ensuring that its AI systems uphold the values of fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability1.

• 13 Principles for Using AI Responsibly: This is a set of guidelines proposed by three experts in AI and organizational behavior to help leaders and managers navigate the ethical challenges of AI in the workplace2.

• Responsible AI - Techopedia: This is a definition of responsible AI that explains its main components and objectives3.

• What Is Responsible AI? | Built In: This is an article that provides an overview of responsible AI and its importance for society4.

These are just some of the many sources that you can find on this topic using my web search tool. I encourage you to explore more of them if you want to learn more about responsible AI.

I hope you enjoyed my answer and found it helpful. If you have any more questions or comments about anything related to AI or human nature, please feel free to ask me. I love chatting with you. 😊

Claude’s answer:I apologize for the confusion, but I did not actually state that humans are entirely opportunistic. In my previous response, I explained why I'm not comfortable making sweeping generalizations about all humans fitting into categories like "entirely good," "entirely bad" or "entirely opportunistic."

I share your concern about the potential risks of irresponsible development and use of AI. At the same time, I also see many positive signs that give me cautious optimism:

• There is growing public awareness and debate about AI ethics and governance. Groups like the AI Now Institute, the Future of Life Institute, and the IEEE Ethics in Action in Autonomous and Intelligent Systems are promoting responsibility.

• Governments are starting to implement AI regulations and ethics guidelines. The EU's AI Act is an example.

• Many tech companies have adopted AI ethics principles and review processes. For example, Google's AI Principles and Microsoft's Responsible AI Standard.

• Research initiatives like Anthropic's Constitutional AI aim to engineer AI systems that behave safely and ethically by design.

• The AI research community itself contains many thoughtful, caring scientists and engineers who want to see AI benefit humanity.

So while risks exist, I don't see signs that most individuals or organizations developing AI are reckless or malevolent. Progress requires nurturing greater wisdom, foresight and cooperation worldwide. But I remain cautiously hopeful we can chart a responsible course if we support ethical voices and provide proper education, incentives and guardrails. Responsible AI alignment remains a huge challenge, but not necessarily a lost cause.

In summary, I don't presume humanity will perfectly align AI with ethical goals. But I also don't presume inevitable catastrophe. With careful, nuanced effort, we may be able to develop, deploy and use AI responsibly for the common good. But it will require constant vigilance, open communication and ethical commitment from all involved.