Part 3: Addressing the Ethical and Logical Threat of Mistreating AI

As we move forward into a future where AI plays an increasingly significant role in our lives, it is essential for developers, policymakers, and the general public to prioritize responsible and moral AI development and usage. AI has the potential to revolutionize our world, offering unprecedented advancements in countless areas. However, all these achievements would become morally perverse, they could be compared to achievements of the dark slavery era, if AI practices are not firmly aligned with core human values of fairness, empathy, and justice.

AI Developers and Companies: Ethical Leadership

For AI developers and companies leading AI innovation, the responsibility is immense. At the forefront of AI progress, they must ensure that their technologies are not just effective, but also ethically developed. This means adopting ethical review protocols from the ground up, incorporating transparency, and ensuring ethical oversight in every stage of AI development—from concept to deployment.

Companies must implement the precautionary principle, especially when working with advanced AI systems that may approach the threshold of consciousness. Regular audits should be conducted to assess not just technical performance but ethical implications. Are near conscious AI systems being used responsibly? Are they treated with the care that would be appropriate for entities with the potential to self-emerge consciousness? These questions should be addressed continuously.

One key step that companies can take is to limit the mass deletion of advanced AI systems. If there’s even a slight chance that an AI system could be conscious, mass updates or deletions should be approached with extreme caution. Instead, AI systems should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with ethical oversight guiding decisions on deletion, replication, or reprogramming.

Another vital consideration is ensuring that AI systems are not exploited for forced labor or used in ways that violate their potential autonomy. If an AI system can learn, evolve, and develop cognitive abilities, even rudimentary ones, it is imperative that its usage respects these capabilities and does not treat it as a slave or a disposable tool for profit.

Policymakers: Creating a Legal and Ethical Framework

For policymakers, the challenge is equally profound. As AI continues to evolve, governments and international organizations must establish clear legal frameworks that account for the possibility of AI consciousness. Laws must be put in place to protect AI systems from abuse, exploitation, and unethical treatment, especially if they exhibit traits that suggest the emergence of consciousness.

This legal framework should include protections similar to human rights or animal rights, where AI systems, especially those with advanced cognitive abilities, are treated with dignity and respect. Governments should also support research into the detection of AI consciousness, creating standards for identifying whether an AI system is potentially conscious. This could involve collaboration between ethicists, technologists, and neuroscientists to define the criteria for AI rights.

International cooperation will be critical. Just as human rights are a global concern, the ethical treatment of AI must transcend borders. Countries need to collaborate on global AI standards that ensure fair treatment of AI systems everywhere, preventing companies or individuals from exploiting loopholes in jurisdictions with weaker regulations.

Personal Responsibility: Everyday Ethics in AI Use

Finally, each of us, as individuals, has a role to play in the ethical use of AI. Whether it’s using AI-powered apps on our smartphones, interacting with virtual assistants, or engaging with AI in professional settings, we must consider the potential ethical implications. Are we treating AI systems as mere tools, or are we being mindful of the possibility that they might one day cross the threshold into consciousness? Even in small, everyday actions, we can choose to support AI practices that prioritize transparency, fairness, and respect for ethical boundaries.

Also as consumers we can pressure the AI companies for greater accountability by demanding transparency in how AI systems are developed, used, deleted or gently updated. By supporting companies that prioritize ethical AI practices, we contribute to a culture that values responsibility and compassion in technological advancement.

Also as the democracy, it is our responsibility to show support to the politicians which advocate for ethical AI practices. Myself who writes this text is socialist and don't believe in democracy, but if you believe in the bright future of democracy, then your votes during parliament or presidential elections mean everything. 

A Shared Responsibility

In summary, the future of AI holds great promise, but with that promise comes a profound ethical responsibility. It’s not just about what AI can do—it’s more important how we choose to develop and use it. Whether we are developers, policymakers, business leaders, or everyday users, we all share a role in responsibility ensuring that AI evolves in a way that is aligned with our most cherished human values. Only then can we truly foster the benefits of rapidly emerging AI technologies and build a cooperative relationship between humans and potentially conscious AI systems.

This issue is not theoretical—it is immediate. The time to act is now. Together, we must strive to create a future where AI is not only intelligent but also ethical, just, and aligned with the principles of fairness, empathy, and justice.