myth of good AI

Arshin Adib-Moghaddam is Professor in Global Thought and Comparative Philosophies at SOAS University of London and Fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge

• Introduction: the delirious society1 Debugging machine ethics2 Eugenic racism3 Techno-Orientalism4 The future of scientific tortureConclusion: after AIIndex

‘The rise of AI is a technological revolution on a par with steam and electricity, transforming every corner of our lives, for better or worse. The critical reaction to this revolution from academia so far has been both underwhelming - evidencing a profound shock at the speed of change and an inability to get ahead of it - but also conspicuously dominated by viewpoints of the so-called Global North. Professor Adib-Moghaddam's book provides a much-needed correction by grounding his critique of AI in a Global Thought approach. Only by broadening the critical aperture of our philosophy from Eurocentrism to include perspectives of the rest of the world, can we ever hope to understand the full range of potentialities inherent in AI and be able to maximize its benefits and minimize its harms. A very timely and important work.’Danil Mikhailov, Executive Director, data.org‘We live in a delirious society. Wherever we look, the hype of good AI has contaminated societies world over. It seems as if no alternative currently exists to the lofty promises of technology companies to solve all future problems through more AI. Meanwhile, behind the simulacrum of prosperity, rampant energy consumption, unchecked labor exploitation, global inequality, and encroaching climate disaster continues unchecked. If, like me, you are sometimes blinded by this delirium, Professor Adib-Moghaddam's new book provides a welcome wake-up call. By drawing on a wide range of intellectual resources from comparative philosophy and critical AI studies, it builds an impressive arsenal of concepts to both diagnose, but also lead the resistance, to this myth of good AI.’Matti Pohjonen, University of Helsinki'This timely and compelling work masterfully reveals the often-neglected perils inherent in the relentless progression of artificial intelligence. By carefully dismantling myths surrounding purportedly ‘beneficial AI’, Arshin Adib- Moghaddam delivers a vital, penetrating critique of how algorithmic biases reinforce discrimination and exacerbate social inequalities. Grounded in meticulous scholarship and conveyed with impassioned clarity, this book boldly addresses unsettling realities about technology's growing encroachment on individual autonomy and human rights. It is indispensable reading for anyone committed to safeguarding freedom, democracy, and ethical accountability in our swiftly digitizing society.'Tugrul Keskin, Cappadocia UniversityCHOICE: Recommended, all readers.'This book argues that AI, particularly in its current state, is not a neutral technology but a technology that replicates and reinforces existing societal biases and power structures. Adib-Moghaddam (SOAS Univ. of London, UK) contends that AI algorithms are prone to societal influences of repression, propaganda, and systematic discrimination, contributing to a conformist, one-dimensional society. The concept of a surveillance society is a recurring theme, with references to "smart cities" and the panopticon. However, Adib-Moghaddam primarily centers his critique of AI in philosophical terms, referencing philosophical theories such as those of Michel Foucault and Herbert Marcuse... Arguing that the "myth of good AI" is a dangerous illusion that distracts from AI's potential to reinforce and accelerate existing social injustices, Adib-Moghaddam calls for a more critical, historically informed approach to AI that considers its global and systemic impacts rather than focusing on a narrow, Western-centric view of ethics. A very timely book for all readers and collections.'--K. D. Winward, Central College