Artificial intelligence as a source of “existential risk”: the problem of self-identification of society and the individual in a global virtual space

UDC 141:004.8

DOI 10.20339/AM.08-23.033        

Nataliya V. Pashkova, Cand. Sci. (Philosophy), Associate Professor at sub-faculty of History, Philosophy and Psychology at Kuban State Technological University, e-mail: pashkov17@rambler.ru

The article deals with the problem of human existence in the conditions of the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the social environment, as well as the position of the individual, putting him in a situation of “existential survival”. The historical moment of the situation is unprecedented: society has never faced such challenges before. The task of the modern generation is to acquire the experience of life in the new world, without losing its human essence.

The purpose of this article is to determine the prospects for the development of the individual in the context of the global virtual space. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were implemented: identified and analyzed the essential features of the new era of artificial intelligence; the main provisions of transhumanism are considered as one of the representative scientific and philosophical concepts aimed at understanding the impact of artificial intelligence on the global historical process; analyzed “three dangers” of challenge for a person existing in the virtual world.

The theoretical sources of the article were the results of scientific research in the field of artificial intelligence, specializing in the problem of implementation and application of high technologies in various social spheres. The methodological basis of the study was the dialectical approach, as well as the method of historical analysis.

Keywords: globalization, society, artificial intelligence, personality, existential risk, transhumanism, posthuman.

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