A Trustworthiness-based Metaphysics of Artificial Intelligence Systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a metaphysical framework for AI systems, defining their identity and persistence based on trustworthiness profiles, linking their functional and physical aspects within socio-technical contexts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theory of AI system identity grounded in trustworthiness, connecting metaphysical identity criteria with functional and physical attributes.

Findings

AI trustworthiness profiles determine system identity

Identity criteria relate capabilities to physical make-up

Persistence depends on socio-technical context

Abstract

Modern AI systems are man-made objects that leverage machine learning to support our lives across a myriad of contexts and applications. Despite extensive epistemological and ethical debates, their metaphysical foundations remain relatively under explored. The orthodox view simply suggests that AI systems, as artifacts, lack well-posed identity and persistence conditions -- their metaphysical kinds are no real kinds. In this work, we challenge this perspective by introducing a theory of metaphysical identity of AI systems. We do so by characterizing their kinds and introducing identity criteria -- formal rules that answer the questions "When are two AI systems the same?" and "When does an AI system persist, despite change?" Building on Carrara and Vermaas' account of fine-grained artifact kinds, we argue that AI trustworthiness provides a lens to understand AI system kinds and formalize the identity of these artifacts by relating their functional requirements to their physical make-ups. The identity criteria of AI systems are determined by their trustworthiness profiles -- the collection of capabilities that the systems must uphold over time throughout their artifact histories, and their effectiveness in maintaining these capabilities. Our approach suggests that the identity and persistence of AI systems is sensitive to the socio-technical context of their design and utilization via their trustworthiness, providing a solid metaphysical foundation to the epistemological, ethical, and legal discussions about these artifacts.