The rapid advance of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has sparked an urgent debate about the need for robust regulation. Professor Paul Dumouchel of the University of Quebec at Montreal argues that widespread misunderstanding of the nature of AI has important implications for how it should be regulated. This analysis is detailed in his essay “AI and Regulations,” published in AI journal.
Professor Dumouchel stresses that AI should not be viewed as a singular, monolithic entity, but rather as comprising diverse cognitive technologies with varying characteristics and applications. This misconception often leads to inefficient regulatory approaches. He states: “Viewing AI as something that exists in itself, rather than as a set of cognitive technologies… leads to inefficient regulatory approaches.” This perspective underlines the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of AI in order to develop effective oversight mechanisms.
The urgency to regulate AI has increased with the emergence of advanced AI models such as ChatGPT. Questions arise: Should AI be regulated? If so, how and by whom? Professor Dumouchel explores these questions, noting that the diversity of AI technologies complicates the regulatory landscape. He explains that AI encompasses a wide range of devices, algorithms and applications, each requiring tailored regulatory approaches.
Professor Dumouchel discusses the historical roots of AI regulation, noting that early AI research was based on the assumption that machines could accurately replicate human thought. This led to the belief that human and artificial intelligence were fundamentally similar, which has influenced regulatory thinking. However, Professor Dumouchel argues that this view is flawed. He writes: “The claim that there is no difference between human thought and the performance of an artificial cognitive system was based on the possibility of creating a machine capable of duplicating the results of various intellectual operations.”
He criticises two predominant approaches to AI regulation. The first is the proposal for a moratorium on AI research, which he describes as a contradictory and ultimately ineffective measure. Professor Dumouchel states: “A moratorium, however, is not a form of regulation. It is more like a double bind, a contradictory order that is doomed to fail.” The second approach involves incorporating ethical considerations into AI systems, which he argues overlooks the fundamental differences between human and artificial agents.
Instead, Professor Dumouchel advocates for a regulatory framework that focuses on the unique characteristics of AI systems. He highlights the importance of understanding the specific cognitive domains and limitations of AI agents. Unlike humans, AI systems are limited to the data and algorithms that define their functions. This distinction is crucial to developing regulations that address the real capabilities and risks of AI.
He also highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in AI systems. Since AI agents operate invisibly and ubiquitously, it is essential to ensure that their actions are traceable and understandable. Professor Dumouchel notes: “We never meet the agent itself, as it is ultimately a mathematical function. We are only exposed to some consequences of its operation.” Regulations should therefore require clear reporting and accountability mechanisms for AI systems.
Professor Dumouchel concludes by stressing that the main challenges of AI regulation are political, rather than ethical or metaphysical. The deployment of AI technologies alters the power dynamics between different societal actors, requiring a regulatory approach that takes these changes into account. He writes: “Artificial cognitive systems and associated information and communication technologies have been instrumental in the unprecedented concentration of wealth and power that we are witnessing.”
In summary, Professor Dumouchel’s study underscores the need for a nuanced and informed approach to AI regulation. By recognizing AI as a diverse set of cognitive technologies, policymakers can develop more effective oversight mechanisms that address the specific risks and capabilities of AI systems. Transparency, accountability, and understanding of AI’s limitations are essential components of a robust regulatory framework.
Journal reference
Dumouchel, Paul. “AI and Regulations”. AI, vol. 4, no. 4, 2023, pp. 1023-1035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ai4040052
About the Author
Pablo Dumouchel He is Canadian and until recently a professor at the Graduate School of Basic Ethics and Frontier Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where he studied political philosophy and philosophy of science. He is the author of Emotions (Seuil, 1999) The ambivalence of scarcity and other essays (2014) and The sterile sacrifice (2015), both in Michigan State University Press. With Reiko Gotoh he edited Against injustice: Amartya Sen's new economy (Cambridge University Press, 2009) and Social bonds as freedom (Berghahn Books, 2015). His most recent book, with Luisa Damiano, is Living with robots (Seuil, 2016) The English translation Living with robots (Harvard University Press) It was published in 2017 and translated into Italian and Korean in 2019. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.
Paul Dumouchel is a Canadian, from 2003 to 2021, professor of political philosophy and philosophy of science at the Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto in Japan. He is with Jean-Pierre Dupuy co-author of The hell of choses (Seuil, 1979). He is also the author of Emotions (Seuil, 1999) and of The useless sacrifice (Flammarion, 2011) in the same way The ambivalence of scarcity and other essays (2014). With Reiko Gotoh she is co-director of the collection of Against injustice: Amartya Sen's new economy (Cambridge University Press, 2009) in addition to Social bonds as freedom (Bergahn Books, 2015). They are free the most recent of him with Luisa Damiano, est Living with robots (Seuil, 2016) is translated into English, Italian and Korean. Il est présentement professor associé au département de philosophie de l'Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.
Leave feedback about this