The Impact of Human Judgment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Exploring the Critical Role of Human Decision-Making in AI

In this article, we delve into the significance of human judgment in the context of artificial intelligence and its implications for decision-making in critical scenarios such as warfare. We will analyze a historical event involving a Soviet officer that showcases the vital role of human intelligence in averting potential disasters caused by AI errors. Additionally, we will reflect on Pope Francis' insights on the ethical considerations surrounding AI and warfare.

Topics Covered:

Artificial Intelligence and the Human Factor

An episode that took place forty years ago should become a paradigm whenever we talk about artificial intelligence applied to war, weapons, and instruments of death. It is the story of a Soviet officer who, thanks to his decision that defied protocols, saved the world from a nuclear conflict that would have had catastrophic consequences. That man was Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov, a lieutenant colonel in the Russian army.

On the night of September 26, 1983, he was on night duty in the "Serpukhov 15" bunker, monitoring U.S. missile activities. The Cold War was at a crucial turning point, American President Ronald Reagan was investing massive sums in armaments and had just described the USSR as an "evil empire," while NATO was engaged in military exercises simulating nuclear war scenarios.

"Autonomous Weapon Systems, including the weaponization of artificial intelligence, is a cause for grave ethical concern...it is imperative to ensure adequate, meaningful and consistent human oversight of weapon systems." - Pope Francis

On that night of September 26, Petrov saw that the Oko computer system, the “brain” that was considered infallible in monitoring enemy activity, had detected the launch of a missile from a base in Montana directed at the Soviet Union. Petrov hesitated, questioning the reliability of the machine’s data, and his decision not to act prevented a potential nuclear catastrophe.

In short, human intelligence had seen beyond that of the machine. The providential decision not to take action had been made by a man, whose judgment was able to look beyond the data and protocols.

War, Pope Francis reiterates, is madness, a defeat for humanity. Relying solely on algorithms for warfare decisions, thereby absolving oneself of responsibility, presents severe ethical dilemmas. The story of Stanislav Evgrafovich Petrov serves as a poignant reminder of the irreplaceable role of human judgment amidst the advancement of artificial intelligence.