Seeing Inside AI: Why Transparency Matters

Written By Sydney Coachman

As artificial intelligence systems grow more complex, the question of whether they possess conscious, valanced states becomes increasingly urgent. Louie Lang (EG 2018) explores how transparency in AI architecture and training processes is essential for making informed judgments about AI behaviour in a recent piece for PRISM (The Partnership for Research Into Sentient Machines). 

Key Insights: 

  • Transparency as a Diagnostic Tool: Louie argues that without clear insight into how an AI system is built and trained, we cannot reliably determine whether its behaviour is spontaneous or engineered. 

  • Abductive Reasoning in AI Ethics: Detecting consciousness in AI may rely on abductive reasoning, inferring the most likely explanation based on available evidence. This process demands transparency. 

  • Ethical Implications: The lack of transparency could lead to misjudgements about AI capabilities, potentially affecting how we treat or regulate these systems. 

Louie’s article is a timely reminder that as we edge closer to developing AI systems that mimic human-like behaviour, our ability to understand and ethically engage with them hinges on transparency. Read the full piece using the button below:

Read Full Piece Here
Sydney Coachman
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