2 weeks Ago By Korea IT Times
In the bustling heart of Bangkok, philosopher and researcher Layne Hartsell gave a thought-provoking lecture on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) or a Holistic Ontology for AI Ethics concerning machine intelligence, the Self, and society. It is a paper that will be published in Eubios Journal later in the year. As AI continues to reshape our world, from healthcare to social media, Hartsell’s talk, part of his ongoing work in science, technology, and society, offered a timely exploration of the moral challenges and philosophical questions at the forefront of this technological revolution.
Hartsell, known for his interdisciplinary approach blending philosophy, technology, and environmental ethics, focuses on AI’s impact on the “self.” From Alan Turing’s seminal 1950 paper on machine intelligence in the journal Mind, he argued that AI, despite its ability to mimic human behavior, lacks a true sense of consciousness or selfhood. “AI reflects the fragmented, isolated self of modern western culture,” Hartsell noted, referencing the pervasive influence of social media—what he calls “memedia”—which often amplifies disconnection and societal decay.
His critique underscored the need for an “inter-philosophical dialogue” to ensure AI serves as a tool for liberation rather than entrapment. The lecture delved into the ethical stakes of AI, from algorithmic biases to privacy concerns, echoing UNESCO’s upcoming 3rd Global Forum on AI Ethics, set to take place in Bangkok in June 2025. Hartsell emphasized that AI must be developed with human rights and dignity at its core, aligning with global standards like UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
In his work, he urges regular citizens, urged policymakers, and developers, to prioritize transparency, fairness, and ecological sustainability in AI governance. For the diverse audience of students, academics, legal and tech professionals, Hartsell’s message was clear: the future of AI depends on our ability to integrate ethical guardrails into its design. As Thailand positions itself as a regional leader in AI ethics, hosting international forums and fostering initiatives like the AI Governance Clinic, Hartsell’s lecture served as a rallying cry for collective responsibility.
Hartsell says “Humans are not mathy mouths; we do not know what the human being actually is.” Alan Turing responded to questions about computational intelligence with “do we say submarines swim?”. And at Studio Glibli in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki-san said of AI “Removing the human being from art is an insult to life itself.
” This lecture was part of a series on technology and society, hosted by the Asia Bioethics Association Secretariat, UNESCO, National Research Council of Thailand, and Kyowa Research Center, Japan. [AI generated from notes] Layne Hartsell, USA (雷恩∙哈特塞尔 - 마이클레인핫셀) - 3E: Energy, Economy, Environment – research fellow at the Center for Science, Technology, and Society, Department of Philosophy, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and at the Asia Institute in Tokyo. Past affiliations: assistant professor, convergence studies, Sookmyung Women's University and Research Institute for Asian Women - Asia-Pacific Women's Information Network Center in Seoul.
Research professor, Sungkyunkwan University and the Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Seoul/Suwon. Lecturer at Mahidol University, Siriraj Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Bangkok. Researcher at the University of Virginia College of Medicine, Charlottesville.
He is a member of the board at Korea IT Times..
