Lives Well Lived DEREK SHILLER: How AI will change what it is to live well
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Apr 16, 2026 
Derek Shiller, a senior researcher at Rethink Priorities who studies AI, catastrophic risk, and ethics, explores AI consciousness and its societal fallout. He describes a digital consciousness model and a tentative ~8% estimate for current systems. He also discusses risks from loss of control, economic disruption, moral status questions, and the politics of governing transformative AI.
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From Philosophy To Tech To AI Research
- Derek moved from philosophy to programming and animal advocacy before focusing on AI, blending philosophical and technical skills.
- He credits web development at the Humane League and tech startup experience for understanding AI's trajectory.
Probabilistic Framework For AI Consciousness
- The Digital Consciousness Model aggregates 13 philosophical stances and ~200 indicators to probabilistically assess AI consciousness.
- Experts rated indicators and stance weights, producing an overall estimate (about 8% for 2024 models).
Architecture Differences Limit Global Workspace Claims
- Many consciousness theories (e.g., Global Workspace) depend on specific architectures; current AI information flow differs from human brains.
- Derek notes some architectures may resemble a global workspace if interpreted broadly, keeping probabilities modest.