Journal Article

FZJ-2024-05477

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Why Care About Sustainable AI? Some Thoughts From The Debate on Meaning in Life

Rüther, M. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2024
Springer Heidelberg]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s13347-024-00717-z  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2024-05477

Abstract: The focus of AI ethics has recently shifted towards the question of whether and how the use of AI technologies can promote sustainability. This new research question involves discerning the sustainability of AI itself and evaluating AI as a tool to achieve sustainable objectives. This article aims to examine the justifications that one might employ to advocate for promoting sustainable AI. Specifically, it concentrates on a dimension of often disregarded reasons — reasons of “meaning” or “meaningfulness” — as discussed more recently in the “meaning in life” literature of analytic ethics. To proceed, the article first elucidates the working definitions of “sustainable AI” and “meaning in life”, while also setting the criteria for evaluating the plausibility of these reasons. Subsequently, it presents and scrutinises three arguments for the claim that one has reasons to care about sustainable AI from a perspective of meaning: the Meaning-conferring-action Argument, the Afterlife Argument, and the Harm Argument. In conclusion, this article asserts that only the Harm Argument presents a viable line of reasoning. However, it also outlines the presuppositions of this argument and the additional steps necessary to make it compelling.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Gehirn & Verhalten (INM-7)

Research Program(s):

1. 5254 - Neuroscientific Data Analytics and AI (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. 5255 - Neuroethics and Ethics of Information (POF4-525) (POF4-525)

Appears in the scientific report 2024

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Database coverage:
; ; ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; SCOPUS

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