2025/01/08 by Matti Häyry · 1 voice · 1 citation
Computer Science · #Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s44163-024-00220-6
openalex publication_date 2025/01/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Abiding by two intuitive ethical rules—“Do not contribute to the production of suffering” and “Do not make self-conscious species extinct without their consent”—at the same time presents a difficulty. Since all sentient beings suffer, we should, to obey the first rule, prevent all future reproduction. But if we do, our species will go, against the second rule, involuntarily extinct. Artificial intelligence could, in principle, be a way out of this dilemma. If we could, by mind uploading, move to a virtual reality with no suffering, the problem would be solved. This, however, has both practical and theoretical challenges.