Ethical AI and World Belief Systems
By: Sampriti Saxena and Stefaan G. Verhulst
The AI Ethics: Global Perspectives course is an initiative that underscores the importance of interdisciplinary and international dialogue in shaping ethical and responsible AI and data practices. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and technologically advanced, the role of AI in our daily lives is expanding at an unprecedented rate. This expansion calls for a robust ethical framework that is not only universally applicable but also sensitive to cultural, social, and religious diversities.
One of the areas of focus of this course involves the intersection of AI ethics with various world belief systems. Often, discussions around AI ethics are predominantly centered on Western philosophical paradigms, which, while valuable, do not encompass the full spectrum of global ethical thinking. This course steps into this gap by offering modules that explore how different belief systems around the world approach the complex ethical questions raised by AI.
The inclusion of diverse religious and cultural perspectives is not just about representation; it’s about enriching the discourse and creating a more comprehensive ethical framework for AI. By examining how different belief systems understand concepts like consciousness, morality, and the role of technology in society, we can develop AI ethics guidelines that are more inclusive and considerate of various worldviews. This pluralistic approach ensures that AI development is not only technically sound but also culturally sensitive and morally grounded.
Below we share four course modules that explore ethical frameworks of artificial intelligence from the perspectives of different world belief systems.
Artificial Intelligence and the African Philosophy of Ubuntu
Presented by Dorine van Norren
In her module, titled “Artificial Intelligence and the African Philosophy of Ubuntu”, Dorine van Norren from the Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society at Leiden University looks at the potential role of Ubuntu philosophy in the AI ethics discourse.
The defining principle of Ubuntu philosophy, according to Van Norren, “I am because we are”, emphasizes the value of community and the goal of continued harmonization that are central to their belief system. In this system, community encompasses all living beings, both human and non-human, from the past, the present and the future. Their ultimate goal is “Mothofatso” or becoming one with your community through mutual aid, inclusiveness, intergenerational learning, reconciliation and personhood.
When thinking about Ubuntu philosophy in the context of the global AI ethics discourse, Van Norren finds that this valuable perspective is underrepresented. Citing the example of the COMEST principles, which informed UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, she pointed out that their approach did not account for any ethical perspectives from the African countries, nor did it attempt to contextualize the principles to meet the diverse needs of the global community. As AI systems continue to be designed and implemented across industries and sectors, Van Norren leaves the audience with two key questions for consideration: Does AI contribute to continual humanization? And do new AI technologies mitigate existing inequalities?
The Islamic Philosophy of Techno-Social Good
Presented by Amana Raquib
In “The Islamic Philosophy of Techno-Social Good”, Amana Raquib at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi provides an introduction to the Islamic philosophical approach to the ethics of technology, and of AI more specifically.
Over the course of her lecture, Raquib explains the normative and ontological underpinnings of Islamic philosophy before arriving at the foundational principle of its approach to techno-social good. She argues that under this framework, technology’s goal becomes to elevate humanity and the collective welfare of the living world with a focus on virtuosity rather than efficiency. She summarizes this approach into the 4 Cs: compassion, community-building, care and cooperation.
In the context of the global AI ethics discourse, Raquib finds that technologies are not value-neutral. Instead, the implementation of technologies requires an ethical framework that is contextualized to the use case and country where they will be used. Looking ahead, she sees the possibility of creating a set of AI ethics guidelines that draw on major religious and secular ethical traditions making them more widely applicable.
What can religion contribute to the AI debate?
Presented by Harris Bor
Harris Bor, from the London School of Jewish Studies, considers the relationship between religion and AI and religion’s potential role in the global AI ethics discourse in his module: “What can religions contribute to the AI debate?”.
Drawing from Jewish theology, Bor identifies 7 core values that, he argues, encapsulate the key aspects of humanity and that ought to be incorporated into ethical approaches to AI given its all-encompassing nature. The 7 values include: (1) sanctity of the individual; (2) virtue as foundation for knowledge; (3) oneness and individuality; (4) possibility of transformation; (5) power of emotion; (6) embodiment; and (7) sacred time and space.
While these values are founded in Jewish beliefs, Bor emphasizes that “all traditions will have something to say to us about being human regardless of our backgrounds, or attraction to the spiritual.” In fact, as the influence of technology grows more totalizing, he argues that it will become increasingly more important to protect the human element of decision making in terms of not only emotions and value systems, but also to embrace human diversity and differences. At the end of his lecture, he calls on his audience to think about what problems and decisions should remain within the realm of human consideration with the goal of advancing global collective good.
The Role of Culture in AI Ethics: An Eastern Perspective
Presented by Jibu Elias
In his module, “The Role of Culture in AI Ethics: An Eastern Perspective”, Jibu Elias, formerly at INDIAai, unpacks the close ties between ethics and culture, making a case for the need to include diverse cultural thought in the ethical AI discourse.
To set the stage for his lecture, Elias brings the audience’s attention to the lack of diversity in the current global discourse around ethical AI. Citing a study by a team at ETH Zurich that found 63% of all AI ethics codes and guidelines come from Europe and North America, he argues that neglecting local knowledge, cultural contexts and different philosophical approaches can lead to negative, often unforeseen, impacts of AI on humans and society. After all, as he points out, ethics cannot be studied in abstraction, since they are by definition relative and strongly influenced by cultures, societies and contexts.
Building on the value of cultural diversity in the ethical AI discourse, Elias explores the role of Eastern philosophical perspectives in the debate. He hones in on largely South Asian belief systems, including Vedic and Sramanic schools of thought, focusing especially on the Buddhist perspective given its widespread adoption and its robust history of application based ethics. He points to Soraj Hongladarom’s work as one example of how Buddhism might approach the question of ethical AI. Hongladarom calls for the use of AI to decrease pain and suffering for all, in alignment with ideas of AI for social good and AI for all. Elias concludes his module with a call for more inclusive approaches going forward, reiterating the risks of narrow perspectives when it comes to technologies with a far-reaching global impact.
Reflections and Ways Forward
The four modules we discuss above provide insights into four different philosophical and religious approaches to understanding the ethical and responsible role of AI in our world today. Although they each bring a unique understanding of the world and technology to the table, they share two critical points of intersection.
The first is a focus on a human-centric approach. All four value systems advocated for the use of AI in a way that amplifies and protects the positive aspects of humanity, including emotion-based decision making, understanding value systems and philosophical approaches to life’s challenges. In alignment with this, all four systems also supported the use of AI to advance collective welfare, and made the case for the inclusion of principles around shared well-being and inclusiveness.
As the design and use of AI-powered technologies continues to expand across industries, sectors and country-contexts, it will become increasingly important to develop robust and applicable AI ethics frameworks to prevent the misuse of these technologies. Given the global impact of AI and the inherent linkages between ethics and belief systems, it will be crucial to incorporate diverse perspectives into the discourse.
The AI Ethics: Global Perspectives course is more than just an academic exercise; it is a necessary step towards creating a foundation that would enable the creation and use of AI in ways that are beneficial and respectful to all. By embracing a plurality of ethical frameworks and encouraging a global dialogue, we can ensure that AI development is aligned with a diverse range of human values and cultural practices. This approach not only enriches our understanding of AI ethics but also promotes a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful technological future.
AI Ethics: Global Perspectives is a free, online course jointly offered by The Governance Lab (The GovLab) at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the Global AI Ethics Consortium (GAIEC), Center for Responsible AI @ NYU (R/AI), and the TUM Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (IEAI). It conveys the breadth and depth of the ongoing interdisciplinary conversation around AI ethics. The course brings together diverse perspectives from the field of ethical AI, to raise awareness and help institutions work towards more responsible use.
Learn more about the course and sign up for our newsletter at aiethicscourse.org.
