AIF Insights No. 18 (2025) | Nāmarūpa in Buddhist Thought and Human-Centered AI

This paper explores the Buddhist concept of nāmarūpa—“name and form”—and its relevance to the development of human-centered artificial intelligence (AI). Rooted in the principle of dependent origination, nāmarūpa describes the interdependence of mental and physical phenomena, emphasizing impermanence, co-arising, and ethical intentionality. The authors argue that this philosophical framework offers valuable guidance for AI design by promoting contextual awareness, process orientation, embodied cognition, and ethical accountability. Integrating these principles encourages a shift away from static, reductionist models toward AI systems that are adaptive, relational, and morally responsive. By framing cognition as both logical and ethically charged, nāmarūpa supports the creation of technologies that respect human dignity, acknowledge the fluid nature of experience, and foster ongoing ethical reflection. This perspective positions Buddhist thought as a timely and practical resource for ensuring that technological innovation aligns with human values in an increasingly complex world.