This thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a...Show moreThis thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a catalyst for the emergence of a human form of consciousness in artificial people. Initially, however, organic human characters in both texts are convinced that artificial people feel no pain and are unable to suffer. The organic human characters use this supposed inability to justify the inhumane treatment of the artificial characters. This thesis demonstrates how R.U.R. and Westworld reflect on the ways that theories about differences in sensitivity to pain were and continue to be used to justify the mistreatment of Others in real life. Additionally, the thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld offer illustrations of the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, in which one’s suffering in response to the Other’s suffering is the foundation of becoming a fully human subject. The thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld interweave these opposite ways of responding to the suffering Other, and thereby contribute to a better understanding of the role of suffering in the ongoing negation of what it means to be human.Show less
Is the term ‘hallucination’ as it is used within the context of generative AI merely a metaphor? An investigation how hallucinations arise in the human perceptual system and in modern generative AI
The launch of the advanced language model ChatGPT has raised many concerns among teachers and educators as they fear the students will use it to do their written assignments for them. An initial...Show moreThe launch of the advanced language model ChatGPT has raised many concerns among teachers and educators as they fear the students will use it to do their written assignments for them. An initial response might be to ban the technology, such that the students have to write every word themselves again. However, one can also take one step back and question what it means that the work a student is expected to do is replaceable by a chatbot. Also, there seems to be a problem with their intrinsic motivation to learn. The fixation on tests and results seems to be one of the main causes for these two issues, as the focus on the end product makes it easy to skip the learning process leading to it, while that process is what motivates students to learn and grow. To revisit the aim of learning and teaching, I will draw upon the insights of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. His ideas on moral education will be used to create a better understanding of the current education system and the role of technologies such as ChatGPT within that. Most important are the emphasis on self-reflection, life-long learning and the role of the dialogue.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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This bachelor thesis focuses on the novel integration of robots within Japanese Buddhism. It does so by zooming in on the integration and assignment of different roles to three robots.
Despite the growing popularity, no clear general definition of data science and artificial intelligence has been established. People are often left into the unknown when it comes to the specific...Show moreDespite the growing popularity, no clear general definition of data science and artificial intelligence has been established. People are often left into the unknown when it comes to the specific definition of these fields. In this study, the first step towards defining these fields is made. Three text analyses models were used to extract the general topics from various data science or artificial intelligence related program or course descriptions. These topics were used to be able to get a grasp on what skill sets are taught to data science and artificial intelligence students. Afterwards, an analysis of posterior classification of the topics per university was performed to explore the differences and similarities between the universities on their orientation of data science and artificial intelligence programs. General and specific skill sets are uncovered and differences between the universities are described in this paper. The results of this paper might be insightful for institutes that have no clear view whether their vacancies might be fit for data science or artificial intelligence graduates.Show less
In this thesis I examine the future of Artificial Intelligence at work. My goal is to investigate whether the replacement of human labor is imminent and whether the use of AI is a source of...Show moreIn this thesis I examine the future of Artificial Intelligence at work. My goal is to investigate whether the replacement of human labor is imminent and whether the use of AI is a source of celebration or worry for labor. I first present some of the hopes and fears around fully-automated, labor-replacing AI technology. I then argue that any predictions are best-situated within the historical and material parameters of value and profit. I aspire to examine how these relate to human-labor, set the pace and shape the limits of the use of AI and labor-replacement. I conclude this thesis by investigating whether it is possible for AI to dominate production within the current economic framework, or not.Show less
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) arms race is becoming the biggest arms race of our time and this race is leading to problems in AI safety. International cooperation is needed to tackle the threats...Show moreThe Artificial Intelligence (AI) arms race is becoming the biggest arms race of our time and this race is leading to problems in AI safety. International cooperation is needed to tackle the threats. Game theory can contribute to explaining competition and cooperation in international relations. The Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) has been used to study arms race dynamics before. However, there is a gap in applying the PD to the AI arms race. This thesis aims to study whether the PD applies to the AI arms race, as it helps to understand the characteristics of this arms race which could be useful for accomplishing cooperation. Qualitative research is conducted using ATLAS.ti 8 to identify the features of PD games. These features are used as codes to analyse national AI strategies and academic articles on the AI arms race. The results show that the AI arms race PD model is constructed of a multiplicity of (constantly changing) actors and choices. The game is asymmetric, asynchronous and the iteration is indefinite. Although the PD model is applicable to the AI arms race, these uncertainties and characteristics of the AI arms race result in a game which is likely to exceed game theory. Even though the model turned out too complex for game theory to work with, this thesis contributes to a better understanding of the playfield of the AI arms race.Show less
Artificial Intelligence is a sophisticated emerging technology that cybercriminals have increasingly been using maliciously to facilitate their attacks. As the private and public sector are key...Show moreArtificial Intelligence is a sophisticated emerging technology that cybercriminals have increasingly been using maliciously to facilitate their attacks. As the private and public sector are key targets of these attacks, collaboration is called for. This study dissects the divergent perceptions of cybercrime in both sectors which have inhibited cooperation in the past during the growth of the Internet, then aligns these scattered views to build common ground to establish a cooperation for this up-and-coming threat. The societal aim is to avoid repeating previous mistakes encountered at the birth of cybercrime. This thesis asks the following question: To what extent does the perception of risk of malicious use of AI by cybercriminals differ within the public and private sector? After conducting a qualitative analysis of nine semi-structured interviews, the thesis finds that distinct perceptions about cybercrime between sectors is what is at the heart of the stagnation. But neither public or private organisations can solve the issue of the upcoming AI cybercriminal threat and reach desired goals without each other as each sector lacks some elements complemented by the other. The differences found in this research can shape the basis of a cooperation against AI-Cybercrimes between the public and private sector.Show less
This thesis set out to answer the question “What can France and the United Kingdom teach us about the role of the state in developing an Artificial Intelligence strategy that aims to ensure...Show moreThis thesis set out to answer the question “What can France and the United Kingdom teach us about the role of the state in developing an Artificial Intelligence strategy that aims to ensure Artificial Intelligence that benefits society as a whole?” Based on the literature review, this thesis assumed that there seems to be a causal relationship between the technology understanding in governments and the role of governments in developing a national Artificial Intelligence system and strategy. Based on a comparative case study between France and the United Kingdom, this thesis anticipated to adopt the hypothesis. The main result from the case study analysis is that both government’s approach in developing AI seems to have an intensifying effect on technology understanding of a government. Drawing from the analysis, the British government pursues an industry-led approach focused on industrial progress and economic value whereas the French government pursues a predominantly research-led approach that focuses on AI autonomy and transformative capabilities of AI. The main conclusion is that the case study analysis indicated that because of the distant governmental role, the technology understanding of the government appeared inadequate to correspond how a future society with AI will benefit all of society and will not exclude certain social groups. When a government had a more central role in AI, it seems more aware of the necessary conditions in technology design (and further development for applications) that would ensure a future with AI technology that includes the entire society.Show less
This thesis discusses the linguistic background of suffixes, and provides quantifications for prop-erties shown to be related to the morphological productivity of suffixation processes. In addition...Show moreThis thesis discusses the linguistic background of suffixes, and provides quantifications for prop-erties shown to be related to the morphological productivity of suffixation processes. In addition,computational models will be explored and discussed, alongside possible uses for these models infuture research into morphological productivity.Show less
The conception of man as master and possessor of nature was introduced by Descartes and this view dominated ever since. Humanity has become extremely smug with his own intelligence and superiority...Show moreThe conception of man as master and possessor of nature was introduced by Descartes and this view dominated ever since. Humanity has become extremely smug with his own intelligence and superiority over nature. When we consider science and technology as parts of nature, they also subordinate to humanity. Heidegger believes that because man is so captured by this conception of himself as master and possessor, he is in fact enslaved by technology, and thereby disconnected from his own essence and from truth. These ideas are highly applicable to the case of artificial intelligence and they can explain the anxiety towards Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This will be demonstrated through this paper. It is an attempt to show that the origin of the anxiety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics lies in man’s attachment to his self-image as master and possessor of nature.Show less
