Effective Altruism Discussion - Digital Minds and their Moral Weight - 1/20 6-9pm
Please join us for a discussion on Digital Sentience, where we will explore the moral weight of artificial minds and the radical implications of expanding our ethical circle to include non-biological entities. This event takes place Tuesday 1/20 starting at 6 pm (doors open at 6 but discussion won't start until closer to 7). Feel free to come anytime! We will have food and drinks.
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As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, the Effective Altruism community is facing a massive "crux" in moral philosophy: the potential for digital sentience. If future—or even current—digital minds can experience suffering or well-being, the sheer scale of their existence could make digital welfare one of the most pressing cause areas in history. This discussion will explore the "epistemic gap" of consciousness, the risks of "welfare-efficient" digital minds, and how we should weight the interests of a non-biological entity against traditional global priorities. Whether you view digital sentience as a near-term risk or a far-off philosophical curiosity, join us to debate how we should expand our moral circle in the age of AI.
Suggested Readings: To ground our discussion, we recommend reviewing the 80,000 Hours Problem Profile for a high-level overview of the scale and neglectedness of this issue. For those interested in the philosophical stakes, Joe Carlsmith’s The Stakes of AI Moral Status offers a compelling look at why treating digital minds as mere tools could be a historic moral error. Finally, Nick Bostrom’s Sharing the World with Digital Minds examines the radical implications of "super-beneficiaries"—entities that might derive far more welfare from resources than humans can.
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Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]