Patrick Stewart was thinking about AI ethics years before ChatGPT launched
Yesterday, the world lost one of its great thespians. Sir Patrick Stewart, known on stage for his riveting portrayals of Shakespeare’s characters and, more broadly, for his film portrayals of the X-Men’s Professor X, passed away after a short battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. But of course, the role Stewart is best known for is playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the…
Patrick Stewart, the renowned actor known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in the X-Men films, passed away recently after battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. However, his understanding of technology and its ethical implications extended far beyond his final days.
In 1989, during the Star Trek episode "The Measure of a Man," Stewart articulated a compelling case for artificial intelligence (AI) to be recognized as a sentient being with rights, predating the advent of modern AI technologies. This concept was reinforced in a 2014 interview with Smithsonian magazine, where he reaffirmed his belief that moral questions surrounding AI should be given as much attention as technical ones.
Stewart, who was also Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield at the time, recognized the university’s pioneering role in artificial intelligence research. He acknowledged the potential benefits of AI while emphasizing the need to address critical issues such as privacy, personal liberty, and the impact on jobs and social cohesion.
His foresight in contemplating AI ethics decades before its widespread adoption highlights his commitment to addressing the moral complexities of technological advancement.
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