Embracing individual morality in generative artificial intelligence

The release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in late 2022 may well have been a tipping point for artificial intelligence. Since then, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models have moved beyond generating text and now produce images, sound and video.

GenAI can produce seemingly coherent but false assertions. Moreover, it is known to have a specific political orientation and bias. For example, Google’s Gemini exhibited such an egregious racial bias when generating images that the company decided to shut off that functionality in early 2024. In response to prompts for ‘1943 German soldiers’ or similar formulations, Gemini cheerfully produced racially diverse Nazi‑era soldiers, including officers of colour in Wehrmacht or SS‑style uniforms—historically implausible depictions that managed to be both factually misleading and morally tone‑deaf.

The OECD recommends that governments “support an environment for artificial intelligence research and development that is free of inappropriate bias”. But what is an “inappropriate bias”? This question is the heart of the so-called alignment problem. Ensuring that models capture human norms and values — and thus better understand what we intend when “prompting” them — is a central question in GenAI research. The present blog argues that attempts to develop a single set of appropriate human norms and moral values are not desirable; in doing so, it draws attention to two people that have thought deeply about moral questions.

Louis Antoine, the healer

The works of Louis Joseph Antoine le Guérisseur, a spiritual healer, provide a stimulating perspective on the alignment question. Antoine was born on 7 June 1846 in Mons-Crotteux in Belgium. He began working in coal mines at the age of 12 and later became a steelworker. After completing his military service at the age of 20, he accidentally killed a comrade. Having married in 1873, he lost his son in 1893. His personal experiences led him to question Catholicism and, in 1896, he published a book outlining his spiritual beliefs. His teachings consist of a unique blend of Catholicism with the belief in reincarnation and the forces of esoteric healing. He also gained recognition as a healer.

In 1906, he and his wife Catherine founded a cult based on his teachings, with the first temple for worship consecrated in Belgium in 1910. After Louis Antoine’s death in 1912, his wife Catherine continued his work. After Catherine’s death in 1940, no further temples were built in Belgium after 1968 and in France after 1993. While the current number of active followers is not known, the number of temples and fiscal records suggest that the spread of the cult has peaked. Currently, there are approximately 60 temples in Belgium and France in which worship is celebrated.

At the core of the Antoinist belief system is the concept of duality within individuals, and an emphasis on the importance of transcending materiality to achieve consciousness and overcome suffering. Spiritual growth can be achieved through a process of moral evolution that involves the harnessing of spiritual energies, facilitated by silent prayer. This process involves living in harmony with the fundamental laws that govern the cosmos. An individual needs to understand, balance and integrate opposing forces into its own spiritual journey, to restore balance disrupted by disease and perceived enemies. The aim is to transform intelligence into consciousness.

Subjectivity of moral principles

It is easy to dismiss the teachings of Antoine as some form of obscure esotericism, but its implications regarding the alignment question are consistent with Kantian moral principles. Immanuel Kant developed moral principles in the 18th century centered around autonomy, rationality, and the categorical imperative, which is a universal moral law derived from reason. The teachings of Louis Antoine encourages followers to prioritise spiritual growth on a personal level. He rejects what he considers an excessive reliance on intelligence in guiding one’s actions and thoughts. Antoine and Kant both are concerned with individual autonomy and the subjective nature of moral principles.

Antoine’s emphasis on individual refinement aligns with Kantian ethics, where treating individuals as ends in themselves is crucial. Antoine highlights the necessity of empathy in moral decision making. Kantian principles elaborate on the moral duty to respect the inherent worth and rational agency of other individuals. Both concepts reject a one-size-fits-all approach to morality.

Antoine posits that human judgment, informed by an appreciation of potential consequences, is necessary to minimise the likelihood of potentially detrimental outcomes. Kant presents a broader principle aimed at preventing unintended consequences. He contends that rational beings possess the capacity for moral reasoning and, as such, they should be held responsible for their actions. Obviously, unlike humans, GenAI cannot be ethically responsible.

GenAI lacks genuine empathy

The absence of lived human experiences and emotional depth hinders GenAI’s ability  to comprehend complex moral dilemmas. The Antoinist perspective emphasises that moral decisions necessitate human compassion, which speaks against entrusting AI with choices that demand a profound understanding of human emotions. AI does not have genuine empathy or an understanding of human experiences. It may inadvertently treat individuals as mere data points or even obstacles to their tasks.

Expecting GenAI to adhere to a single set of moral values disregards the diversity of human ethical perspectives. Antoinism celebrates the diversity of individual spiritual journeys and accommodates cultural pluralism within a universal moral framework. This idea aligns with Kantian ethics that  allow for the coexistence of diverse moral principles.

Aligning GenAI with a single set of values is undesirable

Alignment efforts are touted as a means of creating ethical GenAI. However, such pursuits may be fundamentally flawed in a world where individuals’ moral compasses diverge. Aligning GenAI with a single set of moral principles negates the Antoinist notion that moral values are inherently subjective. It also negates the Kantian emphasis on individual autonomy.

Relying on GenAI that is aligned to a single set of values and norms is undesirable. More desirable would be an ever-increasing number of affordable GenAIs, with each one providing a different mix of social norms and values.

The ChatGPT announcement triggered searches for jobs in functions exploiting artificial intelligence (AI). While it also heighted job security concerns, Google job search trends suggest that people, rather than sitting idle, react by exploring associated new possibilities.

ChatGPT triggered job searches

Work on large language models and artificial intelligence (AI) has been ongoing for some time now. There is a perception however that it has accelerated since OpenAI’s ChatGPT announcement in November 2022. The number of AI apps is increasing every day and so is the number of newsletters tracking them.

As a Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT), ChatGPT has raised concerns about the future of humanity among some and about job losses among many. An early assessment uses alarming terms and singles out news analysts, reporters and journalists as key victims. However, as nicely put in an EconTalk interview, it is advisable to approach AI trends with a relaxed mindset.

Tom and Jerry

To lighten the mood, let’s turn to the timeless cartoon “Tom and Jerry,” which continues to captivate audiences, including myself. Interestingly, these cartoons have occasionally been premonitory. About 80 years ago, an episode explored job automation: Tom’s role as a mouse-chaser was replaced by an AI-powered robot, shedding light on the potential obsolescence of certain jobs.

Tom, the determined cat, faced competition from a robotic cat that outshined him with efficiency, precision, and relentless pursuit of Jerry. Eventually, Tom lost his job as the mouse-chaser and felt disheartened. However, Tom eventually managed to recuperate his position. The explanation may lie in his employer’s realization of the limitations of emerging technologies and Tom’s ability to adapt and acquire new skills. More on the latter further below.

Google search trends suggest people exploit opportunities

Artificial intelligence offers opportunities. It allows a shift toward creative, complex, and uniquely human (or animal) roles that require emotional intelligence and critical thinking. New job categories emerge, and the trend of searching for such opportunities is already evident in Google search trends. The chart below exemplifies the basic idea of a difference-in-difference approach in impact analysis (see here for a primer regarding approach applied in a very different context). It illustrates the trends in Google job searches for three job families, before and after the ChatGPT announcement. Blockchain and crypto stagnate, while AI takes off.

AI is an opportunity

Rather than perceiving advancements in AI as a threat, it is more advisable to see them as an invitation to adapt and develop new types of jobs. In this regard, we can draw inspiration from the morals of Tom and Jerry cartoons, reminding us of the importance of embracing change. Google search trends suggest that this describes what might be happening: And that even in Germany, a country that is sometimes seen as reluctant to embrace change.