In the wake of public fears about how AI will transform contemporary societies, David Runciman makes the argument that we have witnessed similarly profound transformations before. He explains that since the creation of nation-states and large corporations, societies have had to deal with superhuman intelligent machines. Runciman likens the idea of government to an algorithm. The Leviathan of state – or of Google or Meta – is an expression of our collective selves without a soul or a conscience. In its ideal formulation it offers continuity and shared purpose; when it goes rogue, the “man-made monster” has the capacity to exaggerate our destructive failings. Despite taking a deep dive into the History of nation-states and corporations, Runciman’s look is future-oriented. The future relationship is yet undecided. The checks and balances that societies have applied to governments and corporations must be made relevant to artificial intelligence; human judgment is not to be abandoned.

David Runciman is professor of politics at the University of Cambridge and co-host of the popular Talking Politics podcast and the more recently launched podcast Past Present Future. In 2023, he published the book The Handover: How We Gave Control of Our Lives to Corporations, States and AIs. Profile Books.

Join the lecture by Prof. Dr. David Runciman on Thursday, 11.04.2024 from 18:30-20:00 in the TUM Think Tank: https://tumthinktank.de/de/event/die-zwei-gesichter-der-digitalen-demokratie/