Description

2025 Special Focus—Minds and Machines: Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, Ethics, and Order in Global Society

Knowledge, institutions, and technologies are deeply embedded within specific sociocultural contexts. Artificial intelligence has risen to prominence, not merely as a technological advancement but as a phenomenon intrinsically entangled with global sociocultural dynamics, highlighting epistemological and regulatory fault lines that cross local and global spheres.

The epistemological fault line impacts the very foundations of knowledge. Whose knowledge is being prioritized and valorized in developing and applying AI technologies? This question points to a deeper inquiry into the epistemic injustices embedded in the fabric of AI, where certain forms of knowledge—often emanating from dominant cultures and societies—are privileged over others. The implications of such epistemic preferences are profound, as they shape the AI's "knowing capacity" and, consequently, its impact on diverse populations. 

On the regulatory front, the governance of information flows questions the adequacy and fairness of existing regulatory frameworks in managing the complex dynamics of AI across different jurisdictions. This regulatory fault line interrogates who is recognized as a data subject and whose interests are protected in the sprawling data ecosystems that AI technologies inhabit. It underscores the necessity for governance structures capable of addressing the transnational nature of AI, ensuring that regulatory mechanisms are responsive to local needs and attuned to the global implications of AI deployment.

These fault lines reveal the inherently non-technical challenges posed by AI. It is imperative to ensure that the development and application of AI technologies are aligned with human values, societal well-being, and environmental sustainability. This calls for a concerted effort to integrate social science perspectives into the heart of AI discourse, ensuring that ethical considerations, social justice, and equity are integral to the AI innovation process. At the Twentieth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, we embrace a multidisciplinary approach to navigate the complexities of AI in a manner that prioritizes human dignity and environmental stewardship. This endeavor is not only technological, but also of necessity profoundly ethical and political one. It calls for a collective commitment to redefining the principles and practices that will guide the future of AI governance.