Introduction

The discourse of ethics generally aspires to universality. Ethical principles—if they are worth their salt—are supposed to hold all the time and everywhere. In particular, ethical considerations regarding emerging technologies like AI cannot be parochial but need to address global markets. By taking up a cross-cultural dialogue on AI ethics, this volume maintains the contested, multi-perspectival character of AI ethics that begins with its very definition. To be sure, universalist consensus is possible and perhaps desirable—but it is premised on a prior acceptance of the terms of the debate that may well deserve to be questioned.