Below are some of the philosophical and ethical questions that are being discussed with relation to AI and Generative AI - we might also ask who will be and should be answering these questions?

• Policy makers, goverments, academics, philosophers, the general public?

Question 1: Can AI ever be conscious or sentient?

• Do we have an ethical obligation to sentient AI? If so, what kind of obligations?
• What are the criteria, if any, for determining AI consciousness or sentience?
• If AI were to achieve either, what would be the moral and legal implications?
• Is it possible for AI to genuinely feel or experience, or will its outputs always be sophisticated simulations?

Question 2: Can AI ever be condered as a person?

• Can AI be considered a "person" in any meaningful sense? What rights, if any, would accrue to an AI person?
• How might AI alter our understanding of human identity and what it means to be human?
• Could AI develop its own unique "culture" or "societies"?

Question 3: Can AI ever have free will?

• If AI systems make decisions that appear autonomous, are they truly exercising free will, or are they merely executing complex algorithms?
• How does the increasing autonomy of AI impact our understanding of human agency and responsibility?
• If an AI commits a harmful act, who is morally and legally responsible? The programmer, the user, the AI itself?

Question 4: How does AI generate Knowledge, Truth, and Reality?

• How does AI's ability to generate convincing but false information (e.g., deepfakes, AI-generated news) challenge our understanding of truth and reality?
• Can AI truly "understand" knowledge, or does it merely process information?
• How might reliance on AI for information alter human critical thinking and epistemic virtues?

Question 5: What is bias and fairness in relation to AI?

• How can we identify, mitigate, and prevent algorithmic bias in AI systems, especially when datasets reflect existing societal prejudices?
• What constitutes "fairness" in AI decision-making, particularly in high-stakes areas like justice, healthcare, and finance?
• Who is responsible for auditing and ensuring the fairness of AI systems?

Question 6: Is AI accountable and responsible?

• When AI systems make mistakes or cause harm, how do we assign accountability? Is it the developer, deployer, or user?
• How can we establish clear lines of responsibility for autonomous AI systems operating in complex environments?
• What mechanisms are needed for redress when AI decisions lead to negative consequences?

Question 7: What mechanisisms are there for control and governance?

• How do we ensure that humans retain ultimate control over increasingly powerful and autonomous AI systems?
• What regulatory frameworks and international agreements are needed to govern the development and deployment of AI?
• How can we prevent the weaponization of AI and ensure its use for peaceful and beneficial purposes?

Question 8: What dangers does AI make to Employment and Economic Disruption?

• What are our ethical obligations to individuals and communities whose livelihoods are disrupted by AI-driven automation?
• How can societies adapt to and manage the economic transformations brought about by widespread AI adoption?
• Should there be a universal basic income or other social safety nets to address potential job displacement?

Question 9: What does the devleopment of AI mean for Privacy and Surveillance?

• How can we balance the benefits of AI-powered data analysis with the fundamental right to privacy?
• What are the ethical limits of AI-driven surveillance and data collection by governments and corporations?
• How can individuals maintain control over their data in an increasingly AI-interconnected world?

Question 10: What questions does AI raise for Human Dignity and Autonomy?

• When AI is used in creative arts, healthcare, or personal assistance, how do we ensure it augments rather than diminishes human creativity, empathy, and autonomy?
• Can an AI LLM ever have the same "lived experience" of a person and thus dispaly creativity which is filtered through the lens of these expereinces?
• Is there a risk of over-reliance on AI leading to a degradation of human skills or critical thinking?
• How can we design AI to empower individuals rather than control or manipulate them?

Question 11: Are there Existential Risks and what is the Long-Term Future?

• What are the potential existential risks posed by advanced AI, and how can we mitigate them? (Matrix Scenario)
• How can we ensure that the development of superintelligent AI aligns with human values and goals?
• What is our ethical obligation to future generations regarding the long-term impact of AI?