Across the world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used as a tool for political manipulation and totalitarian repression. Stories about AI are often stories of polarization, discrimination, surveillance, and oppression. Is democracy in danger? And can we do anything about it? In this compelling book, Mark Coeckelbergh offers a guide to the key risks posed by AI for democracy. He argues that AI, as it is currently used and developed, not only aids totalitarian regimes but also undermines the fundamental principles on which liberal democracies are founded such as freedom and equality. How can we make democracy more resilient in the face of AI? And, more positively, what can AI do for democracy? Coeckelbergh advocates not only for more democratic technologies, but also for new political institutions and a renewal of education and culture to ensure that AI promotes, rather than hinders, the common good and helps us to revamp humanism for the 21st century. Why AI Undermines Democracy and What To Do About It is illuminating reading for anyone who is concerned about the fate of democracy.
Mark Coeckelbergh Pořadí knih






- 2024
- 2023
Digital Technologies, Temporality, and the Politics of Co-Existence
- 100 stránek
- 4 hodiny čtení
The book explores the challenges of modern digital life, highlighting how constant connectivity and artificial intelligence contribute to feelings of alienation from ourselves, others, and nature. It addresses the pervasive fears surrounding climate change and humanity's future, prompting readers to reflect on how to cultivate a meaningful existence amidst these pressures. The author poses critical questions about coexistence in today's world, seeking to inspire a deeper understanding of living well in a rapidly changing environment.
- 2022
Robot Ethics
- 272 stránek
- 10 hodin čtení
A guide to the ethical questions that arise from our use of industrial robots, robot companions, self-driving cars, and other robotic devices.Does a robot have moral agency? Can it be held responsible for its actions? Do humans owe robots anything? Will robots take our jobs? These are some of the ethical and moral quandaries that we should address now, as robots and other intelligent devices become more widely used and more technically sophisticated. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, philosopher Mark Coeckelbergh does just that. He considers a variety of robotics technologies and applications--from robotic companions to military drones--and identifies the ethical implications of their use. Questions of robot ethics, he argues, are not just about robots but, crucially and importantly, are about humans as well.Coeckelbergh examines industrial robots and their potential to take over tasks from humans; "social" robots and possible risks to privacy; and robots in health care and their effect on quality of care. He considers whether a machine can be moral, or have morality built in; how we ascribe moral status; and if machines should be allowed to make decisions about life and death. When we discuss robot ethics from a philosophical angle, Coeckelbergh argues, robots can function as mirrors for reflecting on the human. Robot ethics is more than applied ethics; it is a way of doing philosophy.
- 2022
Political issues people care about such as racism, climate change, and democracy take on new urgency and meaning in the light of technological developments such as AI. How can we talk about the politics of AI while moving beyond mere warnings and easy accusations? This is the first accessible introduction to the political challenges related to AI. Using political philosophy as a unique lens through which to explore key debates in the area, the book shows how various political issues are already impacted by emerging AI technologies: from justice and discrimination to democracy and surveillance. Revealing the inherently political nature of technology, it offers a rich conceptual toolbox that can guide efforts to deal with the challenges raised by what turns out to be not only artificial intelligence but also artificial power. This timely and original book will appeal to students and scholars in philosophy of technology and political philosophy, as well as tech developers, innovation leaders, policy makers, and anyone interested in the impact of technology on society. -- Résumé de l'éditeur
- 2022
"We are obsessed with self-improvement; it's a billion-dollar industry. But apps, workshops, speakers, retreats, and life hacks have not made us happier. Obsessed with the endless task of perfecting ourselves, we have become restless, anxious, and desperate. We are improving ourselves to death. The culture of self-improvement stems from philosophical classics, perfectionist religions, and a ruthless strain of capitalism-but today, new technologies shape what it means to improve the self. The old humanist culture has given way to artificial intelligence, social media, and big data: powerful tools that do not only inform us but also measure, compare, and perhaps change us forever. This book shows how self-improvement culture became so toxic-and why we need both a new concept of the self and a mission of social change in order to escape it. Mark Coeckelbergh delves into the history of the ideas that shaped this culture, critically analyzes the role of technology, and explores surprising paths out of the self-improvement trap. Digital detox is no longer a viable option and advice based on ancient wisdom sounds like yet more self-help memes: The only way out is to transform our social and technological environment. Coeckelbergh advocates new "narrative technologies" that help us tell different and better stories about ourselves. However, he cautions, there is no shortcut that avoids the ancient philosophical quest to know yourself, or the obligation to cultivate the good life and the good society"
- 2021
Exploring the intersection of performance arts and technology, this book employs dance, theatre, music, stage magic, and philosophy as metaphors to provoke thought on technological concepts. It delves into how these diverse practices can illuminate our understanding of technology's impact on society and individual experience, offering a unique perspective that blends artistic expression with critical analysis.
- 2020
Etika umělé inteligence
- 268 stránek
- 10 hodin čtení
Belgický filosof Mark Coeckelbergh nabízí přístupný přehled etických výzev spojených s umělou inteligencí. Doporučuje nahlédnout za katastrofické scénáře, oblíbené v Hollywoodu, k reálným problémům. Umělá inteligence pohání vyhledávač Google, umožňuje cílenou reklamu na Facebooku, práci hlasových asistentů, prediktivní práci policie, autonomní zbraně i auta. Tyto již existující technologie vyvolávají obavy o bezpečnost, soukromí, odpovědnost za rozhodnutí, transparenci a zaujatost, nemluvě o nahrazení lidské práce. Coeckelbergh však neklade jen otázky, ale nabízí konkrétní doporučení, zvláště vtělit etické hodnoty do konstrukce umělé inteligence.
- 2017
Exploring the intricate relationship between language and technology, this book presents a systematic framework that integrates insights from prominent philosophers such as Searle and Heidegger. It challenges three extreme views on communication, proposing a synthesis that recognizes the mutual entanglement of subjects and objects. Through this narrative, the author argues for a deeper understanding of how language and technology interrelate, highlighting their co-constitutive nature in shaping human experience and interaction.
- 2015
Environmental Skill
Motivation, Knowledge, and the Possibility of a Non-Romantic Environmental Ethics
- 228 stránek
- 8 hodin čtení
Exploring the disconnect between knowledge and action regarding environmental issues, the book critiques modern and romantic views of nature that rely on abstract reasoning. It emphasizes the importance of moral motivation and introduces the concept of environmental skill as a means to foster a deeper and more practical relationship with our surroundings. By challenging conventional thinking, it proposes alternative approaches to engage with environmental ethics effectively.
