The Political Philosophy of AI

An Introduction

Mark Coeckelbergh

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English

Polity Press
11 February 2022

Computer science

Political issues people care about such as racism, climate change, and democracy take on new urgency and meaning in the light of technological developments such as AI. How can we talk about the politics of AI while moving beyond mere warnings and easy accusations?

This is the first accessible introduction to the political challenges related to AI. Using political philosophy as a unique lens through which to explore key debates in the area, the book shows how various political issues are already impacted by emerging AI technologies: from justice and discrimination to democracy and surveillance. Revealing the inherently political nature of technology, it offers a rich conceptual toolbox that can guide efforts to deal with the challenges raised by what turns out to be not only artificial intelligence but also artificial power.

This timely and original book will appeal to students and scholars in philosophy of technology and political philosophy, as well as tech developers, innovation leaders, policy makers, and anyone interested in the impact of technology on society.

By: Mark Coeckelbergh
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 213mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 236g
ISBN: 9781509548545
ISBN 10: 1509548548
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 11 February 2022
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgements 1 Introduction 2 Freedom: Manipulation by AI and Robot Slavery 3 Equality and Justice: Bias and Discrimination by AI 4 Democracy: Echo Chambers and Machine Totalitarianism 5 Power: Surveillance and (Self-)disciplining by Data 6 What about Non-Humans? Environmental Politics and Posthumanism 7 Conclusion: Political Technologies References Index

Mark Coeckelbergh is Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology at the University of Vienna.

Reviews for The Political Philosophy of AI: An Introduction

“The disciplines of AI ethics and political philosophy focus on many of the same issues, but only rarely do we see the rich history of the latter discipline being used to make sense of the politics of AI. Coeckelbergh provides a welcome exception with this important book.” Henrik Skaug Sætra, Østfold University College “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally political, and this book illuminates why. It spans the debates about inequality, democracy, power, and posthumanism, and shows the importance of social and political theory to understanding AI.” Kate Crawford, author of Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence “Coeckelbergh[‘s] […] real focus is on showing a few thousand years’ worth of philosophical thought will not automatically become obsolete through feats of digital engineering.” Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed