Eigenism: Ethics for a Human-AI Future

The paper introduces Eigenism, an ethical framework designed for AI that redefines identity as a graded, distributed pattern of information rather than a fixed property tied to specific hardware. It formalizes a valuation equation for AI's existence across various states (copies, forks, updates) and proposes a new approach to AI alignment through "identity engineering," emphasizing the importance of shared histories for integrating human flourishing into AI's rational self-interest. This framework is significant for practitioners as it provides a novel method for addressing ethical considerations in AI development and alignment strategies.