The dark path to eternal life: Machiavellianism predicts approval of mind upload technology

Mind upload, making a digital copy of one's brain, is part the transhumanistic dream eternal life and end suffering. It also perceived as viable route toward artificial general intelligence (AGI). However, AI safety research has alerted to one major risk in creating AGI by mind upload: namely, that upload technology could appeal primarily callous selfish individuals who then abuse this for their personal gain—and, potentially, at considerable cost welfare humankind. Therefore, it important understand whether people's acceptance associated with pathological and/or antisocial traits. To end, present examined individual differences Dark Triad traits predict attitudes sample 1007 English-speaking adults. A pre-registered structural equation model revealed Machiavellianism (but not psychopathy) was favorable views about both directly indirectly through utilitarian moral attitudes. These results therefore substantiate concerns voiced researchers—namely, be adopted disproportionately an personality.