[kayo_20211030]

I used to believe that a constitution, as a statement of principles, was sufficient for a civilized, democratic, and pluralist society. I no longer believe that. I believe that only settled law - i.e. a bunch of adjudicated precedents over many years, perhaps hundreds, is the best course. It provides a better basis for what is and what is not allowed. An AI constitution is close to garbage. The 'company' will formulate it as it wills. It won't be democratic, or even friendly to the demos. We have existing constitutions, laws, precedents; why would we allow anyone to shortcut them all in the interest of simply painting a nice picture of progress?

[marcosdumay]

You need a just set of laws, a population willing to revolt against the government ignoring crimes, a government willing to persecute the people that breaks the laws badly, and a democratic structure so any one of those can impact the others.

A constitution creates that last one. I imagine by "settled law", you are talking about the 3rd. But take any of those away and the entire thing falls apart.

[kayo_20211030]

I agree in general, but something one ought never to do is to foreclose a future. Constitutions (AI or otherwise), without some responsive mechanism for adjustment and moderation, would only set today's principles for an eternal, unchanging future. That's not right! Let the future adjust its own course as it sees fit. Set out your stall by all means, but accept some mechanism for course corrections by committing to an adjudicated law process that would serve those necessary adjustments - adjudicated by persons who are democratically "adjacent" at least. Nothing's ever perfect, but I have a quixotic belief in the political process to get the laws right eventually. It's always a political process - puts and takes, but more importantly, it needs to be deliberate, and slow-ish.

[dostick]

Neither of those is possible. People are pacified, government is bought and democratic structure is a career.

[stingraycharles]

And who decides that? And what when settled law gets revoked?

Which country’s laws should be used? Should the AI follow the laws in whatever country it is being used?

[kayo_20211030]

I reckon the judiciary of the sovereign entity where the suit is entered would be the best spot for that adjudication i.e. generally, where it's used.