When The Human Psyche Meets AI
In our encounter with AI, may we be psychologically strong and mature enough to move beyond fascination, fear, and automatic adaptive responses, in order to develop a creative and meaningful relationship with this digital other.
Abstract: From deep within our unconscious, will our main intrapsychic guide in this emerging relationship with AI be the ‘Ego Ideal’, an inspiring role model that fosters connection with our highest values and aspirations, or the ‘Ideal Ego’, an infantile tyrant in search of unlimited power? Will we be able to avoid collusion between artificial intelligence and our human unconscious?
“We are so full of apprehensions, fears, that one doesn’t know exactly to what it points. (…) We need more understanding of human nature, because the only real danger that exists is man himself. He is the great danger, and we are pitifully unaware of it. We know nothing of man, far too little. His psyche should be studied, because we are the origin of all coming evil.” — Carl Jung, 1959
“AI doesn’t have to be evil to destroy humanity.” — Elon Musk, 2018
The Human Psyche
