The m!normous test
There is a myriad of art projects, which reflect on apocalyptic and catastrophic scenarios, involving artificial intelligences. However, very few art projects explore the utter banality of how artificial intelligences more and more permeate our daily lives. What if A.I. was to take over all our stories, all our narratives and novels and screenplays? What if we had no stories left to share because all narratives were personalized and fragmentation of society complete?
Intelligent machines pass the Turing test with greater and greater ease. A learning algorithm passes the Turing test when human beings no longer realise that they are communicating with a machine but think they are communicating with a fellow human being. Or, to put it more bluntly, when they can be cheated by the machine. The Turing Point by which learning machines will be declared “more intelligent” than human beings will be here anytime soon. We may have passed it already depending on who makes the declaration and which criteria are applied.
Lacking the technical and scientific understanding the great Alan Turing had, the author of the m!normous© series thought, nevertheless, it was high time for a new 21st century challenge: The m!normous test
An artificial intelligence passes the m!normous test when an educated human majority, trained in critical thinking, not only continually reflects and debates on that artificial intelligence, but also fully understands the work, tasks, calculations, doings, aims, and achievements of such an intelligence. Ongoing debates do not overrate nor underestimate or belittle the complexity of evil, greed or other forces and mechanisms working against the success of such democratic processes. They also take into account a comprehensive list of factors and valid criteria when assessing an artificial intelligence. E.g. the energy used in running and training such intelligence, is known and considered within reason for its task by a majority.
An artificial intelligence passes the m!normous test when it seeks, follows, integrates, decides and runs upon a majority’s democratically instituted laws, regulations and rulings. Law-making in a democratic, entrepreneurial state must be on-going and immediate, obliging dealers in artificial intelligence to inform the public actively and keeping all citizens and non-citizens fully up-to-date to allow for debate and democratic choices. (e.g. having access to goods which are not IoT compatible.)
An artificial intelligence passes the m!normous test when a vast human majority benefits from that artificial intelligence while firmly protecting all human rights, but especially minority rights. The strength of a people, the strength of humanity is measured by the well-being of its weakest members. Artificial intelligence cannot serve the very few and their endless greed or be a means for political, social, religious or other control, suppression or persecution. It must help address what a human majority considers the most pressing issues of our times.