Towards an Assumption Intelligence (AI)

Frédéric CHERY

"Cogito ergo sum" (“I know; therefore I am”). With these words, Descartes asserts, in the 16th century, that it is certain to exist as a thinking subject. But if thought can prove the existence of being, what should we think of these systems that today seem to reproduce it? Should we fear them? Feel in competition with a new species that can threaten ours? Or should we simply integrate them as we have done for so many other technological innovations?  The debate is there and generates curiosity, fear, enthusiasm, dread and hope...

The desire to copy humans is not new, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) officially came into being in 1956 at a conference in Dartmouth. On that occasion, John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester and Claude Shannon proposed that "all aspects of learning or any other characteristic of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate them". Artificial Intelligence is therefore the science and engineering that aims to create machines capable of simulating human intelligence, including learning, understanding language, and problem solving. Over time, AI is becoming more and more powerful and more and more integrated into our daily lives. Nowadays, the simulation of intelligence is so realistic that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between artifice and reality. The AI train is moving; will you take it?

Plato, in his dialogue "Phaedrus", evokes a profound criticism of writing, through the voice of Socrates, who relates an Egyptian myth. In this myth, the god Thoth presents the invention of writing to King Thamus, praising it as a cure for forgetfulness and a means of increasing wisdom. However, King Thamus is not convinced and criticizes writing for reasons that reflect Plato's own concerns.

• Writing addiction: Writing, as an external medium for memory, could make people less inclined to exercise and strengthen their internal memory. In this way, writing acts as a "slave" that takes over the work of memorization and reflection, leading to a dependence on external media for knowledge.
• Diminished Understanding: Plato suggests that deep understanding and critical thinking are impaired by writing. Without direct interaction and dynamic dialogue, as in oral instruction, written ideas remain fixed and do not allow for adjustment or deepening of concepts based on immediate questions and answers. Writing cannot defend its ideas or clarify its points in response to readers' questions, unlike a living spokesperson.
• Loss of inner wisdom: Easy access to written information can give the illusion of knowledge and wisdom without the effort required for true understanding or introspection. Plato was concerned that people might begin to value the mere possession of information over the critical thinking process and inner understanding that comes with active learning and dialogue.
• Transformation of society: Plato anticipated that writing would transform the way knowledge is shared and stored, potentially affecting the quality of teaching and learning. He feared that writing would encourage a form of superficial learning, where the emphasis is on the quantity of information rather than the quality of understanding.

In short, Plato was concerned that writing could diminish individuals' ability to memorize, reflect, and deeply understand subjects, leading to an overreliance on external information and weakening inner wisdom. This perspective reflects a broader tension between communication technologies and how they influence cognition and society, a debate that persists in the digital age...

Today, we know that the invention of writing revolutionized the transmission of knowledge, allowing the preservation and dissemination of ideas across time and space, and laying the foundations of civilizations by facilitating the creation of legal, educational, and governmental systems. It also transformed human thought, fostering the development of critical analysis, abstraction, and long-term planning. The invention of writing also contributed to a decline in memory and oratory skills, as people relied more on written texts than on the oral transmission and memorization of knowledge. It also exacerbated social inequalities, creating a gap between literate individuals, who were able to access and control information, and those who were not, thereby reinforcing existing power structures.

Like any technological development, writing has led to good and bad things. But is it really writing that has dictated its law? Is it not rather our use of writing that has led to good and evil? Technology has given us a tool and we cannot absolve ourselves of our responsibility in its use.

In reality, what AI questions is not so much its nature as ours. It is our conscience that alarms us not about the potential of this technology, but about our humanity and what man can do with it. AI is only a mathematical processing of data, a powerful meta-analysis tool that has no conscience of what it produces. Making it responsible for our failings is undoubtedly already symptomatic of a loss of ethical and moral values in our societies.

The main fears related to AI actually refer us to our own abilities to act in an ethical and moral context. Loss of jobs, increased inequalities, loss of control, security, impact on cognition and relationships question the distribution of wealth, freedom, the maintenance of dignity, sharing of knowledge, equality... By blaming AI for this, we find an ideal scapegoat. We are victims of the tool. It is as if a driver were taking legal action against his car after having an accident. Let's be honest, what we hope or fear from AI, we did not wait to do it.

Pope Francis has stressed the importance of developing artificial intelligence (AI) with the common good as a priority. He introduced the concept of “algor-ethics” to promote the ethical use of AI, insisting that this technology should serve to enhance the dignity of human life and not degrade it. He also encouraged Christians to educate themselves about AI according to the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church, with a view to contributing positively to the future of humanity.

You have to love your time and see the big picture to prepare new generations for the jobs of tomorrow such as that of prompt engineer [1]. More than ever, thanks to AI, we understand the importance of holistic formation of the individual. The technical aspect leads us to sterile terrain when it is not based on ethical and moral reflection. If it is guided by ethical principles, it can be a powerful lever to transform society.

AI can be automated and handle some administrative tasks. This can make it easier to implement service and community engagement projects, or even hinder them due to lack of time or knowledge. Gapsquare[2] uses AI to ensure pay equity by taking into account gender, disability and ethnicity. In the healthcare sector, studies have shown that AI can assess the risk of minority patients not showing up for medical appointments, allowing hospitals to offer targeted solutions such as telemedicine to reduce their no-show rates. In addition, AI can promote access to knowledge for disadvantaged students or those living in remote areas, by providing them with online learning resources and materials. This democratization of access to education is essential to achieving the vision of a transformed and more equitable society.

Our society is changing and we must be its actors. We must train women and men who will be able to act with faith. Whatever our reluctance, the AI ​​train is moving and we must expand our intelligence to not only take it, but also participate in its management.

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[1]The prompt engineer, or query engineer, is a professional specialized in formulating precise queries for generative AIs, such as ChatGPT or Midjourney. Their role is to optimize these tools to produce specific and relevant results based on needs. This job requires strong natural language skills, an understanding of AI models, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with other teams. Training is still not very formalized, with learning often self-taught​

[2]Gapsquare is a platform developed by Dr Zara Nanu in the UK, which analyses employees' salaries by taking into account data on gender, ethnicity and disability, among others. The aim is to transform the system into a tool for greater social justice in the workplace, preventing AI from further discriminating against female workers in terms of recruitment and salary.