AIF Insights No. 36 (2025) | Khmer Gatilok and Relational Ethics: A Cultural Lens for AI Morality

This essay examines the Khmer ethical system of Gatilok as a culturally grounded framework for AI ethics. Unlike Western approaches that prioritize universal principles, Gatilok emphasizes relational, situational, and long-term moral reasoning rooted in Theravāda Buddhist concepts such as intention (cetanā), karma (kamma), and social harmony (sampheap). Through stories, proverbs, and oral traditions, Gatilok teaches that ethical behavior depends on context, relationships, and the consequences of actions over time. Applying these insights to AI governance highlights the importance of relational accountability, participatory oversight, culturally sensitive datasets, and long-term impact assessments. By integrating Gatilok into AI design and policy, this perspective encourages ethically aware, contextually appropriate, and culturally responsive AI systems that respect local values and foster social cohesion.