Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, attended the 1st National Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference organized by the Turkey Intelligent Transportation Systems Association. Speaking under the title ‘Evil and Artificial Intelligence in a Changing World,’ Tarhan emphasized that all evil stems from a lack of empathy. Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence would be beneficial when used for the right purposes, and instead of complaining about AI, people who think good, right, and beautiful thoughts should input abundant good, right, and beautiful information into it. Otherwise, he warned, evil could spread rapidly and take over artificial intelligence.
The conference, held at Teknopark Ankara, attracted significant interest from participants.
“Algorithms in the brain work with genetic codes”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan began his speech by emphasizing the dynamic balance of opposites; “When we look at living beings, we see that all of them operate according to needs such as eating, drinking, reproducing, and sheltering. In other words, they are programmed for living and survival. Algorithms in the brain work with genetic codes, and the brain manages this process with the proteins it produces. For example, let's say there is a threat. In the face of a threat, the brain immediately makes an evaluation and consequently makes a decision: fight, flight, or freeze. It chooses one of these three and acts accordingly. This is an algorithm embedded in our brain. It exists in humans and animals, but in humans, there is something more beyond this. Unlike other living beings, humans attribute meaning when doing these things. For example, there is a structure in the human brain that we call the 'default mode network.' It functions like a meaning network. This is the most active network when dreaming, or when a person contemplates their place in the universe, this network becomes active again. This network operates according to human free will. When free will comes into play, things change. For example, if we look at an animal's imaginary world, it involves things like eating and drinking, but the human imaginary world varies from person to person. Because humans have free will. In other words, humans operate according to the dynamic balance of opposites,” he began.
“We have the potential to go to infinite good and infinite evil”
Tarhan, discussing the concepts of benevolence and malevolence; “There is the second law of thermodynamics, the law of entropy. In this law, there is no darkness, only the absence of light. There is no cold, only the absence of heat. In behavioral entropy, there is no evil, only the absence of good. So, good, evil, light, warmth, darkness are all in balance. If we do not increase goodness, evil emerges spontaneously. Because we all have a bad part within us. If we feed that bad part, we become malevolent over time. If we feed our good side, then goodness multiplies. First, it is necessary to universally define what is good and what is evil. If we don't have a measure, a ruler, we cannot draw correctly. If you draw with a crooked ruler, it will naturally be crooked. Evil is like that too. If we have wrong ethical standards, we become malevolent. If we have correct ethical standards, we become benevolent. This is something unique to humans. Other living beings live entirely according to their genetic algorithms. Because we have free will, we have the potential to go to both infinite good and infinite evil,” he stated.
“We are in a period where evils are increasing”
Tarhan, stating that perceptions of evil have become normalized; “Benevolence and malevolence, in terms of their increase, are a global phenomenon. It moves like a sinusoidal wave. That is, evils increase, increase, increase... Then the bad consequences of these evils emerge. After that, goodness begins to sprout. This time, goodness increases, and goodness prevails. When goodness prevails, after a while, those who do good become selfish, retreat into their comfort zones, and become opportunistic. Then evils start to increase again. There has always been such a sinusoidal cycle in history. We are currently in a period where evils are increasing. You see what is happening in Gaza, you watch what is happening in the world. Our perceptions of evil are now becoming normalized. Indeed, Dante has a saying, ‘The deepest circles of Hell are reserved for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crisis.’ Those who commit evil do so by their nature, just as a snake takes pleasure in poisoning. The most important thing is the position we take against it. If a person can act according to their true character in every environment and under every condition, this is the greatest remedy against evil,” he said.
“All evils stem from a lack of empathy”
Tarhan pointed out that empathy is one of the most critical concepts related to evil; “In fact, this is the key concept. If you fill a room with all evils, a lack of empathy opens its door. All evils arise from a lack of empathy. There is a personality type that lacks empathy. This is called Cluster B personality. Narcissistic individuals fall into this group. Borderline personalities are also in this group. That is, individuals with unstable behaviors and emotional instability. There is a state of instability in every area. Such individuals have serious difficulty empathizing. Antisocials are also included in this group. They are individuals who are more prone to crime and disregard social rules. When these three structures come together, they are referred to in the literature as the 'three horsemen of darkness': Antisocial personality, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. All three are based on opportunism. The understanding that any means is permissible to achieve the goal. They may be successful in the short term, but they lose in the long term,” he said.
Artificial intelligence can be good or evil!
Tarhan, stating that artificial intelligence imitates the human brain; “Artificial intelligence simulates the brain. A simulation was created using genetic algorithms and neural networks, and the brain's simulation was performed for the first time. When making decisions, the brain performs probability calculations. It conducts a profit-loss analysis. The frontal region of our brain, the frontal lobe, is the decision-making area. There is a jury there. It works just like a jury. At the head of the jury is a judge. Next to him are four people. The first is the scientist, who asks, 'Is this real or not?' The second is the ethicist or theologian, who looks at, 'Is this right or wrong?' The third is the aesthetician, who asks, 'Is this beautiful or ugly?' And there's also the business person who conducts the profit-loss analysis. Currently, the capitalist system only uses that profit-loss analysis. It disables the others. The frontal region of the brain says do or don't do, yes or no. We make a decision every minute, every second. Because the brain works with an algorithmic system. Since artificial intelligence imitates our brain, it actually imitates humans. Human nature has a predisposition to both benevolence and malevolence. Therefore, since artificial intelligence imitates humans, it can be a good human or a bad human,” he said.
“Ethical standards are the primary condition”
Tarhan, emphasizing that artificial intelligence must adhere to ethical standards; “For artificial intelligence to be used purposefully and beneficially, data cleansing must first be done. Ethical standards are the primary condition. Secondly, transparency is very important. If it is transparent, we can easily prevent malevolent scenarios because people will know which algorithms AI is using. Thirdly, it must be inclusive. The more people use artificial intelligence, the easier it will be for AI to find the truth. Therefore, instead of complaining about artificial intelligence, people who think good, right, and beautiful thoughts should input abundant good, right, and beautiful information into it. If we don't, after a while, evil is viral; it spreads very quickly. Malevolent information will take over artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence can crash planes, start wars, do anything. You load a bad algorithm, and it crashes the plane. This is why data security and cybersecurity have come to the fore so much right now. That risk is always present within it. Currently, it can disrupt social mobility and economic mobility with a virus. It can affect bank account activity on a global scale. This is even called 'E-war' in psychological warfare. Electronic warfare. If a war were to break out now, a trade war would become even more important. That's the most dangerous. Planes cannot take off, systems cannot function. All life stops. It would be very effective,” he explained.
“This feature is one of the fundamental differences that distinguish humans from other living beings”
Tarhan emphasized the ability to generate assumptions; “What programs our brain is intention. Intentional behavior. In fact, there are new studies on the neuroscience of intention. The brain works differently when it intends and when it does not intend. We have mirror neurons in our brain. And there are emotional mirror neurons. That is, when we talk to someone with strong emotions, areas like love, fear, and hatred become active on the other side of the brain. Brains work like wireless internet. They establish connections. For example, in advanced autistic children, the structure called the theory of mind in the brain, which we call 'Theory of Mind,' does not work. This is why they cannot empathize. The ability to empathize is related to mirror neurons. This is what we call reading the emotions of the other person, emotional literacy, but they cannot empathize. That is, they only believe what they see. For example, you cut an apple. Someone without abstract thinking ability looks at the apple and just says 'seed,' but a person with a developed theory of mind who can think abstractly can see the apple inside the seed. They say, 'This apple came from here, but if I plant this seed in the ground, it will become an apple tree. So, there is an apple tree inside this seed.' In other words, they see it with the mind's eye. This is the ability to generate assumptions. This feature is one of the fundamental differences that distinguish humans from other living beings,” he said.
“The global problem has also spread to us…”
Tarhan, discussing the increase in household fragility; “Five-person households are considered healthy. Single-person households are defined as fragile households. Currently, single-person households, single-parent families, and individuals living alone have seriously increased worldwide. Especially in Northern European countries. Similarly in England. This household fragility is also gradually increasing in our country. When looking at statistics, five-person households are decreasing, while single-person households are increasing. This is actually a global problem and has also affected us. Yet, we are a society that loves warm relationships. We are a society with strong close contact and family ties, but we have also been influenced by global culture. Loneliness is not actually a cause but a result. Because modernism has changed our philosophy of life. In our philosophy of life, hedonism is now prominent. Chasing pleasure has become an ego ideal. The global system wants to increase production by increasing consumption. They look at it as, the more that is consumed, the more things will be bought. For example, physical appearance is glorified through slogans like ‘There are no ugly women, only unkempt women,’ advertisements, and the cosmetics industry. Not inner appearance. This is also a consciously made direction,” he stated.
“We will be the subject, not the object, of artificial intelligence”
Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence provides benefits when used positively; “It is not right to see artificial intelligence merely as a threat. Jesus Christ emerges in Palestine but globalizes in Rome. How did this happen? There is also a destiny, an order there. As it is said, 'All roads lead to Rome,' it was the stone roads that made Rome what it was. Those roads provided military, social, and economic mobility. Jesus' followers spread through these roads and became influential in Rome. Today's stone roads are digital platforms. Therefore, artificial intelligence, the internet, and digital tools should be seen as opportunities, not threats. Those who hold the truth should use digital platforms well to convey this truth. If we don't use them, others will use them and direct. We should use artificial intelligence not only for commerce, to earn more money, but also for our ideals, to lead humanity to a better place. People who attribute such meaning to it work with it day and night, sleep and wake up in the laboratory, and even see experiments in their dreams. This is how discovery happens. In China, 6-year-old children are currently being taught artificial intelligence. Because the impact of artificial intelligence on humanity is a revolution as great as the impact of the printing press or electricity. Therefore, instead of discussing artificial intelligence, let's focus on how to use it for good. Artificial intelligence offers us very powerful opportunities in a positive sense. We will be the subject, not the object, of artificial intelligence. If we are at the steering wheel, the direction will come from us, but if we are the object, an idea will come from somewhere and start to control us,” he concluded.
