What is it?
The Society for the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (SPhAI) was founded to promote philosophical engagement with artificial intelligence (AI), both theoretical and ethical. We run bi-annual conferences, a mailing list, and a journal.
Why does it exist?
The need for such a society derives from the guiding role that philosophical reflection can and should play in the development and use of AI, and from the maturation of philosophy of AI as an academic sub-discipline that is important for the wider work in philosophy itself.
As AI systems become increasingly powerful and prevalent, questions arise about their impact and trustworthiness. Philosophers help assess risks and define criteria of trustworthiness, thereby providing guidance for future development, regulation, and use. At the same time, they address longstanding philosophical questions about the possibility that AI systems might themselves be considered intelligent, sentient, or worthy of moral consideration.
Whereas philosophers have long concerned themselves AI-related issues, their work has historically been distributed across a number of societies, journals, and conferences that are dedicated to more general issues in science, mind, technology, computation, and ethics. The rapid development and distribution of AI has led to a renewed philosophical focus on this technology and its societal impact, leading to the maturation of philosophy of AI as an academic sub-discipline.
The Society for the Philosophy of AI promotes this subdiscipline within academic philosophy and within the AI research and development community. To this end, SPhAI publishes an academic journal, organizes conferences, and runs a mailing list for society members.
Who is it for?
The Society for the Philosophy of AI is a home for all philosophers performing academic research on AI, no matter their geographic location or institutional affiliation. The society does not charge membership fees, and its journal does not charge fees for publication or reading. The philosophy of AI is characterized not only by a detailed and critical engagement with AI technology, its applications, and its theoretical foundations, but also by a high level of philosophical originality, clarity, and argumentative rigor.