What a 19th-Century Kazakh Poet Knew About the Age of AI
3 days ago
- #Human dignity
- #Philosophy
- #AI ethics
- The article explores the relevance of 19th-century Kazakh poet Abai Qūnanbaiūly's philosophy to the AI era, emphasizing that the real threat of AI is not to jobs, privacy, or democracy, but to the process of becoming a person.
- Abai's concept of 'adam bol' (become fully human) frames humanity as an achievement, not a condition, shifting focus from what AI does to us to how we use the freedom it provides, with morality as a distinctly human project.
- Abai's ethical triad—mind, heart, will—prioritizes heart over mind and will, highlighting that AI lacks true empathy, and thus human oversight of AI should be a moral, not just technical, concern.
- Abai valued knowledge as spiritual enrichment rather than information, suggesting education in the AI age should focus on personal transformation and formation, not just content delivery.
- The deepest risk of AI is simulation—AI mimicking human qualities like soul or wisdom—which may lead us to neglect our own moral development, making Abai's call for resistance through 'adam bol' more urgent than ever.