A Discussion on the Loss of Ethics and Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Chapter from the book:
İnci,
Ü.
H.
(ed.)
2025.
Humans in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: From Art to Health, Society to Technology.
Synopsis
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has introduced profound transformations that extend beyond technological innovation to reshape social structures, ethical norms, and human values. In the age of artificial intelligence, systems capable of learning, predicting, and decision-making increasingly function not merely as tools but as socio-technical actors that influence individual behavior, institutional practices, and collective value systems. This transformation has intensified concerns regarding the erosion of core ethical and human values such as autonomy, responsibility, fairness, empathy, and accountability. While artificial intelligence promises efficiency, accuracy, and optimization, its widespread integration into everyday life has also accelerated a value shift in which speed, performance, and data-driven rationality are prioritized over deliberation, moral reflection, and social solidarity. Algorithmic decision-making, opaque system architectures, and data-driven biases challenge traditional notions of ethical judgment and weaken human agency by transferring responsibility from individuals and institutions to automated systems. Moreover, phenomena such as digital identity construction, algorithmic media ecosystems, and emerging concepts like digital immortality contribute to the artificial reconstruction of cultural memory and social meaning. This study critically examines contemporary academic debates on ethics and value loss in the context of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the limitations of purely technical or regulatory solutions. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature, it argues that ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence cannot be addressed solely through normative guidelines or governance frameworks. Instead, a holistic approach that integrates ethical reflection, cultural sensitivity, human-centered design, and digital moral awareness is required. By framing artificial intelligence as a transformative force in value formation rather than a neutral technology, this discussion highlights the urgency of re-centering human dignity, moral responsibility, and societal values in the design and governance of intelligent systems
