Glossary
AI Ethics
Normative inquiry into what constitutes acceptable design and use of AI, including values such as dignity, justice, autonomy and the public good.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22
In plain language
AI ethics predates recent foundation-model debates and draws on philosophy, professional ethics, bioethics and human-rights traditions. Many institutional “ethics principles” lists overlap (fairness, transparency, accountability), but they are not interchangeable with law. Ethics work can inform standards and regulation; it can also remain hortatory. Disputes persist over whose values are encoded, who is represented in ethics bodies, and whether ethics-washing substitutes for enforceable duties.
Why it matters for AI governance
Ethics language is ubiquitous in AI policy. Readers need to know when a document is a moral framework, a professional code, or a legally binding instrument.