Ethical evaluations need sound philosophical reflections of technologies. Philosophy of Technology analyses human-technology relations in concrete applications, uncovers forms of subjectification and objectification of typical socio-technical configurations, and exposes epistemological aspects that are intertwined with normative questions (e.g. explainable AI). Philosophy of Technology also explores different concepts of technology and the ongoing technisation of the modern world.

AI is about to permeate all areas of society. Much of the AI technology that is contributing to this success is opa- que, meaning that it is not obvious for a variety of reasons why it exhibits a particular behaviour. This opacity can become problematic, including from an ethical perspective, e.g. when a physician must justify the decision they made using software they only partly see through. Has this piqued your interest? Learn more here!

A major focus of the workgroup is the (post-)phenomenological analysis of automated and connected driving. How do auto- nomy and agency change with increasing degrees of vehicle automation? How can the interaction between humans and machines be ethically evaluated? What notions of the good life (good mobility) underlie different visions of (fully automated) autonomous driving?

Another research project of the energy-history of data centres is in preparation. First, an overview will be developed of when and how the energy demand of data centres has been accoun- ted for. Second, the epistemological and normative assumpti- ons of the used, and quite different, scales, concepts and data sources shall be explicated. Third, these findings will be reflec- ted in the light of the current EU recommendations according to the “Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres”.