Pinker disputes Deutsch's position that AGI would necessarily have subjective experience or moral status, arguing that a system designed to maximize a specific function (like solving cancer) would have no intrinsic reason to desire freedom or autonomy unless those desires were explicitly programmed in, independent of its computational power.

normativepending

Speaker

Steven Pinker

Evidence Quote

if the goals that are programmed into an artificial intelligence system don't include aren anthropomorph eyes to what you and I would want why couldn't it happily be our slaves forever

Source

David Deutsch & Steven Pinker (First Ever Public Dialogue) — AGI, P(Doom), & The Enemies of ProgressJoseph Noel Walker
Created: 8/12/2026, 10:21:48 PM

My Notes

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