The ethical governance movement has become steadily more popular since the discovery of corridor travel and the exposure of the cluster to examples of AI governance. The core worlds of Idris and Pestralia and their corresponding interplanetary colonies are the most prominent examples of AI governance. Some contend that Even the Temple for a short period of it’s existence was an AI governed society, though this opens a great degree of philosophical debate over the distinction between artificial intelligence and simumated people.
These interplanetary nations have inspired movement across the cluster that are collectively referred to as the ethical governance movement. The Jambles has some of the most fervent advocation, many of the planetary nations in this region between the superpowers are characterized by political polarisation, civil instability and conflict. Proponents of the movement claim that AI governance would lessen and circumvent these tensions, that AI are not vulnerable to coersion or bribery and will only work as programmed. The ethical governance movement engages in protest, campaigning with affiliate parties but also source derivatives of existing governance intelligences for distribution. They also fund academic research, debates and speakers to further the movement.
The fragmented nature of the movement has meant that interpretations of What form AI governance should take. Some favor AI facilitated direct democracy where the governing intelligence considers the will of a population on particular issues and then tries to enact policy aligning with it. Others favour a more technocratic model where a number of purpose-built intelligences handle specific areas to areas, their proposed actions are then affirmed or rejected by elected representatives or governing intelligence.
Critics of the movement warn against investing such powers in intelligences that by their nature cannot be understood. There are currently 2 classifications of artificial intelligences outlined by the Temple, sublunary class intelligences are well understood, comprehendable, coherent and act within their designated functions and capabilities. They can learn and adapt to new tasks with sufficient instruction, but they are not General intelligence. They are ultimately narrow and limited in how much they can change based on their initial code. Apparaitional class intelligences however are general intelligences, they can learn or adapt and aside from. Constraint hardware are they can like humans show no known limit for acquisition and application of knowledge. Altering the code of an apparitional intelligence does not change it in predictable or reliable ways. They cannot be controlled or constrained in the ways they think. They also think creatively, independently and simply regurgitating or recombining known information. Documented apparitional intelligences have always evolved from runaway or unconstrained iterative learning processes of sublunary class intelligences. That being said Apparitional class intelligences have been quickly contained and those that are still being observed in controlled settings have no indication of hostility or even wants or motivations.
The movement aims to incrementally establish AI governance to facilitate greater social reform and eventually post-scarcity. Extreme elements of opposition to the movement have on occasion sought to violently oppose the movement targeting key figures or governing intelligence transportation or procurement. Armournauts have been integral in addressing the security concerns of the movement across the various nations and territories of the cluster.