Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly changing our working world and our everyday lives. What has received little attention so far is the question of how it also challenges our self-image as human beings. In his new book, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Offence – The Loss of Human Distinctiveness,’ Prof. Dr. Karsten Weber, philosopher and expert in technology assessment at OTH Regensburg, examines the profound social challenges of the AI age.
The book focuses on the question of how AI is shaking the image of humans as unique and self-determined beings. Weber describes the ‘offence’ that arises when technology makes more and more areas of the world accessible and humans increasingly experience that they are not as special and unique as they had long assumed.
He links philosophical considerations with current social developments and places them in a broader context. He also addresses how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly and what ways there are to successfully manage the digital transformation.
"Both the expectations and fears surrounding artificial intelligence are great. Productivity gains are offset by job losses, while advances in medicine simultaneously call privacy and autonomy into question. But these are just two of the many contradictions that are being discussed scientifically and publicly in connection with AI. In the long term, however, AI will not only have far-reaching implications in these areas, but will above all challenge our self-image as autonomous beings. This loss is the subject of the book," says Weber.
The book is the result of many years of scientific engagement with AI and is aimed at anyone interested in the ethical and social implications of technological developments. The publication was recently released by Psychosozial-Verlag and can be found here.
