Presentations

Some of my recent and upcoming presentations are described here
Compassionate Healthcare AI: Psychological and Theological Perspectives on Motivation, Agency, and Self-Reckoning

Compassionate Healthcare AI: Psychological and Theological Perspectives on Motivation, Agency, and Self-Reckoning

Monday, July 29, 2024

American Scientific Affiliate Annual Meeting. Washington, DC.

Abstract

Healthcare applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) improve clinical accuracy, increase efficiency, and lower costs, but when done carelessly, can interfere with patient care and increase health inequity. Compassion and empathic caregiving positively affect patient outcomes yet are frequently hindered by technology. What if AI could identify and respond compassionately to suffering, transforming a potential harm into a source and means to improve patient communication, trust, health outcomes, and well-being?

In research informed by psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhism, compassion is understood to have affective, cognitive, and motivational dimensions. A further psychological characterization identifies five components: recognizing suffering, understanding the universality of human suffering, feeling for the person suffering, tolerating uncomfortable feelings, and motivation to act/acting to alleviate suffering; with a sixth component suggested in the context of AI technology—-attention to the effect and outcomes of the response. The motivational dimension of compassion identifies an open avenue for compassionate AI only recently enabled by advances in AI agency and autonomy.

Drawing upon Dan McAdam’s psychological characterization of agency and Daniel Cervone's knowledge and appraisal architecture, I characterize the appraisal and self-reckoning of a proto-self that serves as a foundation for motivated agency by AI. By including a moral dimension and compassionate purpose within the AI appraisal of human suffering, AI can identify and respond to suffering in a prudent and just manner respecting human autonomy and dignity. This characterization of compassion and suffering by AI opens up avenues to improve human health, well-being, and flourishing.

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