A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The dark path to eternal life: Machiavellianism predicts approval of mind upload technology




AuthorsLaakasuo Michael, Repo Marko, Drosinou Marianna, Berg Anton, Kunnari Anton, Koverola Mika, Saikkonen Teemu, Hannikainen Ivar R., Visala Aku, Sundvall Jukka

PublisherElsevier Ltd

Publication year2021

JournalPersonality and Individual Differences

Journal name in sourcePersonality and Individual Differences

Article number110731

Volume177

ISSN0191-8869

eISSN1873-3549

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110731

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/54610169


Abstract

Mind upload, making a digital copy of one’s brain, is a part of the transhumanistic dream of eternal life and the end of suffering. It is also perceived as a viable route toward artificial general intelligence (AGI). However, AI safety research has alerted to one major risk in creating AGI by mind upload: namely, that mind upload tech-nology could appeal primarily to callous and selfish individuals who then abuse this technology for their personal gain—and, potentially, at a considerable cost to the welfare of humankind. Therefore, it is important to un-derstand whether people’s acceptance of mind upload is associated with pathological and/or antisocial traits. To this end, the present research examined whether individual differences in Dark Triad traits predict attitudes toward mind upload in a sample of 1007 English-speaking adults. A pre-registered structural equation model revealed that Machiavellianism (but not psychopathy) was associated with favorable views about mind upload, both directly and indirectly through utilitarian moral attitudes. These results therefore substantiate the concerns voiced by AI safety researchers—namely, that mind upload technology could be adopted disproportionately by individuals with an antisocial personality.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 20:35