Artificial Intelligence and the Common Good: A Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Exploration

Discussions about artificial intelligence often mention the notion of the common good. But what does the common good mean in the light of cultural diversity? This paper explores a cross-cultural and intercultural perspective on AI and the common good, with a focus on African and Chinese traditions: it explores Ubuntu and Confucian perspectives on common good and AI. It is argued that this is not only important to better understand “other” perspectives but also to critically reflect on one’s own culture and how this culture shapes how we think about AI and similar technologies. The paper concludes with a call for developing AI for the common good.