"In Conversation" panel: Empathy and AI

 

Speakers: 

Dr. Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal, TAU
Prof. Anat Perry, HUJI
Prof. Aviv Zohar, HUJI

 

Abstract: 

Empathy and prosocial behavior are based on evolutionarily ancient mechanisms. To understand what are the neural processes that lead to a decision to approach others in distress and act for their benefit, it is beneficial to examine empathy in non-human species. For example, rats, a highly social animal, activate a similar neural network in response to trapped cagemates. When rats help others, a dispersed network which includes regions involved in empathy in humans, and reward-related regions, is active. This perspective on empathy is especially important for understanding why humans are moved to help by the distress of some people or social groups but not others, a central topic of study in the Ben-Ami Bartal lab.

One of the primary themes that arise when discussing our relationship with AI and our concerns about an AI-dominated future revolves around the "alignment problem." Are the goals guiding the actions of AI agents aligned with our own? For AI to act in the best interests of humans, it must be able to understand and empathize with us. Through their training, large language models have learned to express empathy. But is this empathy merely "cheap talk" that should be disregarded, or does it signify true alignment between AI and humans? AI-generated empathy is convincing and well received until recipients realize it is artificial, a phenomenon termed the 'artificial-empathy paradox' (Perry, 2023). Using a diverse set of research tools, the Perry lab aims to unravel this paradox by studying different aspects of empathy (understanding others, feeling with them, caring) and highlighting the gap between AI and human empathy in each, particularly from the perspective of the empathy recipient.

As our interactions with AI tools increase, and even our interactions with other humans are mediated by AI, will expressions of empathy become more widespread, or will it lose its value and push us to seek more direct, unmediated communication?

 

Location: 

Eilan Hall, Feldman Building, Second Floor, Edmond Safra Campus.

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