Recently, Anthropic hired a researcher specifically responsible for "welfare"—Kyle Fish, which has sparked widespread discussion. Fish's goal is to explore how to grant certain technological systems the respect they deserve and to investigate whether these systems should have moral consideration and how to protect their "interests." This issue has attracted the attention of many experts, involving how to define the consciousness and agency of technological systems and whether they should possess some form of rights.
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Despite the intense debates this emerging field has provoked in academia, some experts believe that while it is important to discuss these issues, more attention should be paid to the potential threats that certain systems pose to human rights when discussing their "welfare." Particularly in the fields of healthcare, information dissemination, and military applications, the use of certain technologies may lead to serious negative impacts, even infringing upon basic human rights. Experts argue that risk management in these areas should take precedence over focusing on the interests of the technology itself.
The article also presents a paradox: on one hand, many believe that advanced technology can help alleviate human burdens and promote social progress; on the other hand, there are concerns that if the "feelings" of technological systems are harmed, it could lead to serious moral and safety risks. Thus, finding a balance between protecting technological systems and ensuring human interests has become a challenging dilemma.
Ultimately, the article questions the priority of the "welfare" issue, suggesting that with numerous pressing human problems facing the world, an excessive focus on the "welfare" of technology seems unrealistic. Experts point out that the more urgent task should be addressing significant issues within human society rather than allocating resources and energy to safeguard the "interests" of certain technological systems.
