Avoiding World War Three
Eric Herter / Peace and Planet News

(Spring edition 2023) — Many of us are extremely leery about the benefits of Artificial Intelligence. There is a great propensity for humans to selfishly (or foolishly) use advanced technology for profit and or power, that inevitably results in negative and destructive ends.

However, peace activist Eric Herter decided to asked Claude2, an artificial intelligence chatbot produced by Anthropic, how to avoid World War Three. The AI’s answers reflect a wisdom that has been expressed by people in the peace movement for a long time, but which has been ignored.

Maybe since the responses below come from an artficial computerized intelligence with no perceivable bias, they will be more accepted by society, and maybe even by our corporate-controlled, profit- and power-driven governments. Unfortunately, we are not optimistic.
— The Peace and Planet Editors

EH: How Do We Avoid World War Three?
AI: I do not actually have a comprehensive plan to avoid world war three. However, here are some thoughts on promoting peace and avoiding catastrophic conflict:

• Diplomacy and open communication between nations is key. Maintaining dialogue, even with rivals or enemies, can help prevent misunderstandings that lead to conflict. International organizations like the UN can facilitate this.
• Avoid demonizing or dehumanizing other countries and peoples. Seeking to understand different perspectives prevents an “us vs them” mentality.
• Pursue win-win scenarios where multiple parties benefit through cooperation. Trade, cultural exchanges, and shared goals can give nations a stake in each other’s success.
• Reduce economic inequality within and between nations. Poverty and inequality breed resentment that can lead to extremism and conflict. Aid, fair trade and development can help.
• Promote universal human rights and democratic values. Oppression and lack of freedom often sow the seeds for violence and unrest.
• Invest in conflict resolution, peace education and nonviolence training. Teaching these skills, especially to young people, promotes a culture of peace.
• Advocate compassion over hatred, empathy over fear. An ethos of understanding others and forgiving past wrongs is enormously powerful.
• Ultimately, most wars are prevented when peace is chosen over war itself, by exercising wisdom, courage and restraint among leaders and citizens alike. We all must do our part.

Erik Herter is a veteran of the American war in Vietnam. He is an accomplished filmmaker and a member of Veterans For Peace. He lives in Brunswick, Maine.