The Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Conceptual, Empirical, and Technological Investigations into Values

Abstract Advances in artificial intelligence have recently stirred both public and academic debates about the opportunities but also the risks posed by these developments. It is evident that the disruptive impact of AI in many societal domains can no longer be ignored. This topical collection emerged from a full week of high-quality paper presentations at the CEPE/IACAP Joint Conference 2021: The Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and comprises 13 articles that were chosen purely on the merit and originality of their respective arguments as well as their ability to advance the existing ethical and philosophical discourse on AI. This introduction provides a concise overview of the individual contributions, grouping them into four thematic strands: (a) On Democracy, Regulation, and (Public) Legitimation in an AI-powered World, (b) On the Challenge of Protecting Privacy in Today’s Data Economy, (c) On Solidarity, Inclusivity, and Responsibility in AI Design, and (d) Reconsidering AI Ethics. As such, the introduction serves as a gateway and guide to the topical collection, contributing to what has recently emerged as a ‘hot topic’ within philosophy and beyond but has also been at the heart of research within the CEPE and IACAP communities for a long time. The paper concludes with some hopeful remarks on the current landscape of the field and its possible trajectory.