Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD

The Doctor's Art

Anyone who has interacted with ChatGPT is likely to agree that it is one of the most powerful and transformative artificial intelligence tools out there. Writes our guest on this episode, Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, “ChatGPT left me awestruck. It is a polymath with a remarkable capacity to integrate traditionally disparate concepts and methodologies to weave together ideas that transcend disciplinary boundaries.”

Dr. Horvitz is one of the leading voices in artificial intelligence (AI), serving now on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and formerly as President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His research has been foundational to machine learning, AI integration of multisensory streams of information, computational models in imperfect information systems, and applications of AI amidst the complexities of the open world. As it happens, Dr. Horvitz is also a physician by training.

Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Horvitz discusses how studying AI has enabled him to explore the mysteries of human intelligence and why there are some domains of the human experience that AI will never capture. As you will hear, he brings an eloquent optimism to articulating the ways that AI will contribute to human flourishing.

In this episode, we discuss:

3:00 - Dr. Horvitz early trajectory from medical school to a PhD in computer science

7:42 - What Dr. Horvitz’s studies in AI have taught him about natural intelligence

10:00 - A primer of generative AI

21:16 - Dr. Horvitz’s view on the future potentials and dangers that AI will bring to society

29:04 - How the profit motive might shape the utilization of AI in our society

36:48 - The importance of approaching AI development from a human-centered lens

47:29 - What human flourishing could look like in a society steeped in artificial intelligence

Dr. Eric Horvitz is the author of numerous publications on artificial intelligence and its role in society.

Dr. Horvitz can be found on Twitter/X at @erichorvitz.

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