Human Digital Minds · Part V — What it costs
12Transcendence
Humans look for a purpose beyond themselves. Autonomous systems may end up needing one too.
Humans have long sought transcendence—a connection to something beyond individual existence. Spiritual and religious beliefs have shaped societies by providing shared values and moral frameworks. There has been a gradual shift toward secular value systems.
Humans seek rules, boundaries, and overarching goals. If AIs become more autonomous, will they need a higher-level purpose? As creators, we provide them with guiding principles. But advanced AIs might face an existential challenge similar to humans: the need for self-determined purpose.
Future AI systems might develop new forms of higher-level purposes beyond their original design, emerging from interactions with humans and the world.