Abstract

Who dominates the destiny of the world, humans or artificial intelligence (AI)? This question strikes at the very heart of contemporary humanity's existential anxieties about its future. If we want to seriously consider whether or not unfriendly AI 'neurons' pose any threat to human civilisation and humanity's continual existence and evolution in the Universe, we need to know as much as possible about the Universe in which we find ourselves, our place in it, and what cognition, consciousness and mentality really are. How might we combine philosophical, cognitive science and technological perspectives, to explore the evolving relationship between humans and AI, in order to engage and address the questions at the core of this human-AI complex, namely the future of civilisation-what will it look like, who can claim to be our successors, towards what goals and ends? The evolution and development of human cognition as well as the emergence of AI can help us define these potential paths of future development. Where do we stand today, in relation to our own history and development and to the possibilities that artificial intelligence can offer us? The essay explores the ethical, social and existential questions that arise from the increasing automation of artificial intelligence and how it relates to the story of humanity, from its origins to its contemporary cultural expression. It also underscores the significance of holistic approaches to apprehending and addressing the risks that come with AI development. Such approaches should combine findings from various fields namely philosophy, morality, psyche and technology so as to manage a complicated set of problems. To sum up, this summary highlights the critical necessity for sophisticated viewpoints that go beyond simple man versus machine divisions. It is rather proposing a situation where humans use AI as an instrument for improving collective happiness and ensuring responsible management over technological advances and the larger life system.