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Special session: ALife And Society VIII: Accepted oral presentations
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Proceedings Papers
. isal2024, ALIFE 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 Artificial Life Conference125, (July 22–26, 2024) 10.1162/isal_a_00765
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This paper focuses on the internal representation of norms and the necessary concepts required for normative decisionmaking in computational agents. We leverage the social science literature to integrate currently absent prevalent concepts of social expectations within the Expectation Event Calculus (EEC) and, in doing so, extend the formalism. Through the adopted terminology of expectations, we distinguish between descriptive and social norms, enabling a more comprehensive description of individual and collective behavior conditional on social expectations. We introduce complementary abstractions for normative attributes to demonstrate and explain why such a distinction between expectations enables richer normative scenarios to be modeled, which has yet to be shown in the EEC. We demonstrate this extension through a binarydecision social scenario. First, through a single-agent implementation driven by hardwired narratives. Secondly, we demonstrate the extension through a selection of multi-agent scenarios that showcase a change in behavior conditional on expectations. As a minimal implementation of social expectations, we conclude the paper with themes and open challenges as avenues for further research.
Proceedings Papers
. isal2024, ALIFE 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 Artificial Life Conference126, (July 22–26, 2024) 10.1162/isal_a_00800
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Socio-technical systems increasingly involve the convergence of human intelligence (natural life, or NLife) with artificial intelligence (ALife) in co-existence, co-production and co-evolution. This raises the possibility of an inequitable distribution of power , either by exacerbating existing asymmetric power relationships or an unwitting concession of power from NLife to ALife. In this paper, we investigate power-sensitive design, an instance of value-sensitive design, as a conceptual model for empowering NLife communities with ALife capabilities. We define “empowerment” in five cognitive dimensions, relate this definition to four higher-order cybernetic design patterns, and apply these patterns to four case studies. We conclude with a discussion of the social implications, in particular the empowerment of communities through the embodiment of communality .
Proceedings Papers
. isal2024, ALIFE 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 Artificial Life Conference123, (July 22–26, 2024) 10.1162/isal_a_00707
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The current artificial intelligence paradigm, where exponential scaling of data and computation leads to an increase in functionality and application, requires exponential demand in energy usage, data storage and raw materials for computing components. We compare this dynamic of resource dependence and depletion of AI systems to population dynamics of a snail, the symbol of the degrowth movement. Juxtaposing both phenomena as autopoietic systems within a structural coupling with their environment we identify the difference between sustainable and unsustainable coupling, meaning the ability to sustain itself over time. Due to an absence of negative feedback loops for AI systems, with resources ultimately limited, we identify the state of current AI systems and resources as unsustainably coupled. As AI systems are currently in a process of homogenization in form and function, we call for exploring alternative ways of being for AI systems, for example inspired by the sustainable dynamics of snails within their ecosystem.
Proceedings Papers
. isal2024, ALIFE 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 Artificial Life Conference124, (July 22–26, 2024) 10.1162/isal_a_00726
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The evolution of opinions in collectives is influenced by, and simultaneously influences, the interaction network. Simple rules like conformity and homophily drive the co-evolution of network and opinions, leading to the emergence of complex collective behaviors. Studying these behaviors gives insight into complex social dynamics, including the formation of echo chambers. This paper highlights how spatial information sources, and network connectivity shape echo chambers. We propose a potential solution to overcome the local trap of echo chambers by leveraging the mobility of agents.
Proceedings Papers
. isal2024, ALIFE 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 Artificial Life Conference127, (July 22–26, 2024) 10.1162/isal_a_00818