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The ethics of sustainable AI: Why animals (should) matter for a sustainable use of AI

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  • Leonie N. Bossert
  • Thilo Hagendorff

Abstract

Technologies equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) influence our everyday lives in a variety of ways. Due to their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, their high use of energy, but also their impact on fairness issues, these technologies are increasingly discussed in the “sustainable AI” discourse. However, current “sustainable AI” approaches remain anthropocentric. In this article, we argue from the perspective of applied ethics that such anthropocentric outlook falls short. We present a sentientist approach, arguing that the normative foundation of sustainability and sustainable development—that is, theories of intra‐ and intergenerational justice—should include sentient animals. Consequently, theories of sustainable AI must also be non‐anthropocentric. Moreover, we investigate consequences of our approach for applying AI technologies in a sustainable way.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonie N. Bossert & Thilo Hagendorff, 2023. "The ethics of sustainable AI: Why animals (should) matter for a sustainable use of AI," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 3459-3467, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:31:y:2023:i:5:p:3459-3467
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2596
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Jon Truby, 2020. "Governing Artificial Intelligence to benefit the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 946-959, July.
    5. Iris M. Bergmann, 2019. "Interspecies Sustainability to Ensure Animal Protection: Lessons from the Thoroughbred Racing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-30, October.
    6. Y. Narayanan & Yamini Narayanan, 2016. "Where are the Animals in Sustainable Development? Religion and the Case for Ethical Stewardship in Animal Husbandry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(3), pages 172-180, May.
    7. Larissa Bolte & Tijs Vandemeulebroucke & Aimee van Wynsberghe, 2022. "From an Ethics of Carefulness to an Ethics of Desirability: Going Beyond Current Ethics Approaches to Sustainable AI," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcell Sebestyén, 2025. "Focal points and blind spots of human-centered AI: AI risks in written online media," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.

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