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Is there a tension between AI safety and AI welfare?

2025/05/23 by Robert Long, Jeff Sebo, Toni Sims · 9 citations
Neuroscience · Social Sciences · #Classical mechanics #Economics #Epistemology #Ethics and Social Impacts of AI #Market economy #Metaphysics #Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations #Philosophy #Philosophy of language #Philosophy of mind #Physics #Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment #Tension (geology) #Welfare

paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s11098-025-02302-2

published in Philosophical Studies 182(7), 2005-2033 (Springer Science+Business Media)

openalex publication_date 2025/05/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Abstract The field of AI safety considers whether and how AI development can be safe and beneficial for humans and other animals, and the field of AI welfare considers whether and how AI development can be safe and beneficial for AI systems. There is a prima facie tension between these projects, since some measures in AI safety, if deployed against humans and other animals, would raise questions about the ethics of constraint, deception, surveillance, alteration, suffering, death, disenfranchisement, and more. Is there in fact a tension between these projects? We argue that, considering all relevant factors, there is indeed a moderately strong tension—and it deserves more examination. In particular, we should devise interventions that can promote both safety and welfare where possible, and prepare frameworks for navigating any remaining tensions thoughtfully.

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