Perspectives and Approaches in AI Ethics: East Asia

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean perspectives on and approaches to AI and robots, which can be tools and partners in the AI ethics debate. Each country, in its own way, debates its movement across the tool-partner spectrum. To date, South Korean policy makes a stand against partner AI and robots, while popular culture explores the idea. Chinese policy is headed in the direction of a tool-oriented AI and robotics ethical guidelines, while local practices and culture experiment with the idea of physical and spiritual partnership. Meanwhile, Japan’s social principles are also moving in the tool direction, but its society actively seeks and creates partner-like AI and robots. The chapter then considers two cross-cutting AI and robotics-related ethical issues: the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification. These issues underscore the question of “antisocial” technology. It is clear that both the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification in technology fall under “antisocial” development.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI Ethics, Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox, China, East Asia, Japan, Robots, South Korea, Techno-Animism