Xiaolan Deng, a second-year student from Christ Church, has been awarded the prestigious Bernard Williams Essay Prize for her thought-provoking essay titled 'Original Creativity, Associative Creativity, and AI.' The accolade is a component of an annual competition established to encourage undergraduate philosophy students to delve into the ethical implications surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).
Ms Deng's essay explores a critical question: 'Is AI a threat to human creativity?' She contends that AI poses a significant risk to the creative abilities of humans, not by directly replacing human creators, but by changing how creative works are produced and perceived. In her analysis, she delineates between two forms of creativity—'original' creativity, which refers to the generation of groundbreaking and novel ideas, and 'associative' creativity, which involves the ability to connect existing ideas.
In her argument, she asserts that while AI excels in associative creativity, it fundamentally lacks the capacity for original creativity, attributing this deficiency to its inherent lack of uniqueness and intentionality. Speaking to The Oxford Times, Ms Deng stated, "The real threat AI poses to human creativity lies not in its ability to replace human creators, but in how it redefines the creative process."
Her insightful argument caught the attention of the Institute for Ethics in AI, leading to an invitation for Ms Deng to present her essay at the upcoming award ceremony scheduled for December 4. Expressing her gratitude, she remarked, "It was an incredible experience to discuss my ideas in such a stimulating environment." The first prize comes with a monetary award of £500.
Ms Deng credited her tutors, Dr Fabian Pregel and Dr Irwin Zaid, for their unwavering support during her preparation for the essay. She commented, "This achievement would not have been possible without the guidance and encouragement I’ve received at Christ Church."
The Institute for Ethics in AI is dedicated to supporting research in the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence. In addition to promoting existing experts in the field, the institute aims to nurture future thinkers by offering graduate scholarships and awards like the Bernard Williams Essay Prize.
This recognition has inspired Ms Deng to continue her exploration of the intersection between technology and philosophy, reinforcing her passion for understanding how emerging technologies, specifically AI, impact established business practices and creative expression within society.
Source: Noah Wire Services