Almost 100% of college students have anonymously admitted to using artificial intelligence (AI) for college work, according to Matthew Meyer, a professor of philosophy at UW-Eau Claire Barron County. 

On Feb. 5, during his Thursdays at the U talk at UW-Eau Claire Barron County entitled “AI and Our Humanity,” Dr. Matthew Meyer discussed the “promises and perils” this technology suggests as our society grows into an AI-driven world. 

Meyer posed many questions concerning how a society with AI so “thoroughly embedded in our lives” would function and some concerns about the future of the job market, the spreading of disinformation, environmental impacts, creativity, purpose and the diminishment of critical thinking.

Some of the benefits of AI include finding cures and medicine, tutoring with personalized education, reducing famine, and a possible end to work. 

According to Meyer, there seems to be no concrete solution for the issue of AI.

“It appears to be people trying to come up with solutions for the future while the tech companies are sort of relentlessly bringing that future to us as quickly as they possibly can,” Meyer said. 

He said he is concerned about how little regulation and risk-calculation are being put into the production of AI models before being catered to the masses on a global scale, before people can adjust or think about how our evolving world is being impacted. 

Every time we use AI to write an email, we are going through one bottle of water for cooling.” Resource usage often goes overlooked, and Dr. Meyer brings this issue to light. 

There is also the alignment problem, the concern that the goals of AI and our goals may not align, and the control problem, the concern of how we should control AI capabilities and motivations to make it conform to the “intentions of the designer.” 

Dr. Meyer spoke about the book “Deep Utopia” by Nick Bostrom and said it evaluates the potential problems of life and meaning in a world solved by “technological maturity,” or AI.

Some of these more abstract, existential risks include the redundancy problem and the purpose problem, which describe the potential mass job replacement brought about by AI that mimics the workers they replace, and the hedonic stagnation or loss of purpose that would be brought about by this post-work utopia.

Some ways that purpose might endure, according to “Deep Utopia,” are by creating meaningful constraints or “voluntary hardships,” designing deep experiences and shifting value from a struggle out of need. 

Some other ways would be cultivating authentic caring, embracing moral and creative growth, and finally allowing a plurality of utopias by allowing more diversity of lifestyles, depending on where different people assign meaning. 

By delegating tasks to AI, such as college homework, Meyer said it diminishes critical thinking via “cognitive off-loading.” 

“It’s going to be a point where it’s impossible for us to detect without knowing that it was created,” Dr. Meyer said of AI. 

He said AI poses a huge risk to human reputations and creativity, such as with deepfakes and image generation. Jobs also suffer because “the work only needs to be passable” before companies begin to replace workers with AI that costs them less. 

One member of the audience asked what we can depend upon to give acceptable answers to what’s authentic or not. 

“We cannot rely on individuals to prevent the overtaking of AI,” Meyer said. “It doesn’t seem like anyone in the current government is poised to be putting any regulations on anything.” 

It does not fall on the general public to decide when enough is enough, but officials are hesitant to draw the line that may clarify these issues and lessen the harm they may cause. 

Given this, Meyer said solutions do exist. The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act introduced a “precautionary principle” in 2024 that determines stricter regulations based on delegated risk level.

Meyer said we may combat the purpose problem and redundancy problem by instituting a universal basic income and shifting value to other hobbies and areas of life. 

According to Meyer, it is vital for people to understand the impacts and stipulations of AI if we are to live in a society driven and powered by it. Although the benefits are extensive, we must also preserve the things in us that make us human and, in that way, unique.

Tollaksen can be reached at [email protected].