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Ethical AI governance: AI for society and a co-learning approach

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) presents transformative opportunities and complex ethical challenges. This paper adopts a socio-technical perspective, emphasizing that AI is not an isolated technology but rather deeply embedded in evolving societies. It critiques governance models, particularly rule-based approaches in the West, which, whilst addressing some risks, often stifle innovation and fail to engage diverse societal needs. This paper proposes an alternative framework integrating Western risk-management strategies with Chinese ethical principles rooted in Confucianism and Daoism. These principles emphasize dynamics, flexibility, relational stakeholder participation, and context-sensitive solutions to align AI with societal and environmental goals. The proposed model advocates for a co-learning approach to AI ethics, recognizing the dynamic interactions among developers, users, policymakers, and the public. By fostering participatory governance and adaptive ethical frameworks, it addresses both known and unknown risks while promoting equitable, sustainable development. It calls for cooperation to harness AI's transformative potential, ensuring it evolves in ways that benefit society and mitigate harm.

Source: Cultures of Science

DOI: 10.1177/20966083251336553

Authors: Xiaobai Shen, Lu Gao

Institutions: University of Edinburgh, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute for History of Natural Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, National Social Science Fund of China

Awards: G5135762662, G5791956062