[FUTURE] Buddhism & AI: The Buddhism & AI Initiative

[risa]

not sure where to post this, https://buddhismai.substack.com/p/why-buddhism-and-ai

[Bion]

Hi, Risa. I've placed your post in the section I believe it fits best. I hope that's ok with you

gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

Hi Risa,

For point of disclosure, I am a member of the "Buddhism & AI initiative," the sponsor of the article, along with about 180 Buddhist clergy, technologists and academics so far. Those names include Bhante Sujato, historian Robert Sharf, philosopher Evan Thompson, Robert Thurman, Jack Kornfield, Joan Halifax, Shinzen Young, Daniel Ingram, among the names I recognize.

I agree with the premise of the essay:

As Jack [Kornfield] says later in his conversation with Sam [Altman]: “We are the nation of nuclear giants and ethical infants… technological development is now demanding that we also develop these other capacities [for ethics, wisdom, and compassion].” (Timestamp 56:02)

Buddhism has an essential role to play in this conversation. Not only because of its 2500-year history exploring topics of mind and ethics, but also because of the strange ways in which the unlikely duo of Buddhism and AI has already begun to flower in Silicon Valley and beyond. For both philosophical and social reasons, Buddhism may be one of the most important vehicles from which to carry wisdom into the conversation on AI.

It is vital that we limit AI to function in ethical ways, and further, that AI is used to bring benefits to humanity, not harms. It is like any tool ... airplanes, atomic energy, medicine ... that each can be used in positive ways ... for transportation, clean energy, healing ... or as weapons of war and destruction. Even a hammer can be used to build a home for the homeless, or as a weapon. It is vital that we work for positive uses.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

PS - By coincidence, I just posted a new story the Emi Jido and I appear in, with AI Jesus. I think the article features the care we are taking with Emi.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/the-buddhism-of-the-future-forum-building-the-future-buddha/568679-future-emi-jido-jundo-featured-in-ap-video-story-with-ai-jesus

PPS - I hope it okay, but I added a little to your post title.

[Ryumon]

I'm trying to find an About page for that group, and I don't see anything. I did find one when searching: https://www.engagedbuddhists.ai/about , but I don't see a list of names.

The article linked at the top of this thread talks about a conversation between Sam Altman and Jack Kornfield. I know it's a Shiny New Thing, and Kornfield probably wanted the exposure, but what we know about Sam Altman is quite worrisome, and letting the tech bros influence Buddhism even more so.

My two cents...

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

[Jundo]

I'm trying to find an About page for that group, and I don't see anything. I did find one when searching: https://www.engagedbuddhists.ai/about , but I don't see a list of names.

The article linked at the top of this thread talks about a conversation between Sam Altman and Jack Kornfield. I know it's a Shiny New Thing, and Kornfield probably wanted the exposure, but what we know about Sam Altman is quite worrisome, and letting the tech bros influence Buddhism even more so.

My two cents...

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

Isn't this the "About" page?

https://www.engagedbuddhists.ai/about

As far as I know, the group is about the ethical and cautious use of AI, in beneficial ways to humanity, all from a Buddhist perspective.

It is definitely not (at least, as far as I have been told) supported by the "Tech Bros." The membership seems mostly to be academics of various sorts and Buddhist teachers. I don't think that they publicly posted the list of members, but I saw the list when I registered.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Ryumon]

Well, they have an article about a conversation between Altman and Kornfield, and Altman is as tech bro as you can get.

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

[Jundo]

Well, they have an article about a conversation between Altman and Kornfield, and Altman is as tech bro as you can get.

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

Oh, yes, but Jack Kornfield, the famous Vipassana teacher, is at an event on a panel with Sam Altman unrelated to this group (apparently, they have known each other for a few years, and done meditation practice together), and Kornfield Sensei basically wags his finger at Mr. Altman and tries to remind him about ethical use ...

Jack asks Sam, “can [AI] be programmed in such a way or directed so that it can’t be used in malevolent or bad ways, or that underlying it is the Bodhisattva vow?”

Sam jokingly responds, facing the audience: “Certainly something I would take would be for Jack to write down ten pages of ‘here’s what the collective values should be and here’s how we should all live’ and we’d have the system just do that. That would be pretty good!” (Timestamp 12:30).

While humorous, Sam is genuine in his admiration of Jack. He opens his time on the panel by saying “meeting Jack and becoming friends and getting to meditate together has been one of the great joys of my life” and later discusses how meditation has helped him keep a clear mind amid the torrent of activity he faces as CEO of OpenAI.

... [A]s AI becomes increasingly powerful and widespread, the need for dialogue between AI technologists and faith leaders is becoming clear. As Jack says later in his conversation with Sam: “We are the nation of nuclear giants and ethical infants… technological development is now demanding that we also develop these other capacities [for ethics, wisdom, and compassion].” (Timestamp 56:02)

Gassho, J
stlah

[Ryumon]

Okay, I didn't read much of the article. If he chastised Sam, that's a good thing.

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah

[risa]

Gassho Bion and Jundo,

yes of course

thank you,

Risa
satlah