New book out now: The Ethics of AI: Power, Critique, Responsibility

⚡️ Open Access, published by Bristol University Press.

There’s no AI ethics without addressing power.

In this book, I lay the foundation for a Power-Aware Ethics of AI – bridging critical philosophy, Science and Technology Studies, and media theory to rethink ethics in the age of networked media and data-driven AI.

🔹 I introduce the concept of Human-Aided AI

🔹 Explore how power, UX design, and subjectification intertwine

🔹 Revisit the history of AI and cybernetics

🔹 Critique the idea that all biases can be “fixed” by technical means

🔹 Make the case for collective ethics and responsibility

🔹 Call for stronger regulation of AI

🔹 And conclude with a “Manifesto for a Power-Aware Ethics of AI”

This project grew out of my lecture series at the University of Osnabrück – heartfelt thanks to all the students for their invaluable engagement and enthusiastic feedback.

Publishers blurb: In a world where artificial intelligence increasingly influences the fabric of our daily lives, this accessible book offers a critical examination of AI and its deep entanglement with power structures. Rather than focusing on doomsday scenarios, it emphasizes how AI impacts our everyday interactions and social norms in ways that fundamentally reshape society. By examining the different forms of exploitation and manipulation in the relationship between humans and AI, the book advocates for collective responsibility, better regulation and systemic change.
This is a resounding manifesto for rethinking AI ethics through a power-aware lens. With detailed analysis of real-world examples and technological insights, it is an essential reading for anyone invested in the future of AI policy, scholarly critique and societal integration.

Download options and bibliographic data

1. 

   Mühlhoff, Rainer. 2025. The Ethics of AI: Power, Critique, Responsibility. Bristol University Press. doi:10.51952/9781529249262.

   Full text Publisher's website bibtex

   ×

   @book{Mü2025:EoAI,
     title = {The Ethics of AI: Power, Critique, Responsibility},
     author = {Mühlhoff, Rainer},
     isbn = {978-1529249248},
     doi = {10.51952/9781529249262},
     publisher = {Bristol University Press},
     year = {2025},
     web_group = {books},
     web_thumbnail = {/assets/images/publications/Mü2025:EoAI.jpg},
     web_publisher = {https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-ethics-of-ai},
     web_fulltext = {https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/downloadpdf/monobook-oa/book/9781529249262/9781529249262.pdf}
   }