AIF Insights No. 2 (2024) | Can AI Be Morally Responsible from the Mahayana Buddhist Lens?

AIF Insights No. 2 (2024) | Can AI Be Morally Responsible from the Mahayana Buddhist Lens?

This article explores the moral responsibility of AI through the lens of Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing human accountability in its development and use. While AI lacks consciousness, intentions, and wisdom—key attributes for moral responsibility in Buddhism—humans possess these qualities and must ensure AI aligns with ethical principles like mindfulness, wisdom, non-harm, and compassion. By integrating Buddhist teachings, such as the Four Sublime States of Mind and the law of karma, we can foster responsible AI that prioritizes societal well-being and mitigates harm. Ultimately, humanity must reflect on whether greater peril lies in machines thinking like humans or humans thinking like machines.