Philosophy has historically been viewed as a niche discipline, but its relevance is growing in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Major tech companies are hiring philosophers to help navigate ethical dilemmas associated with AI development. For instance, the percentage of philosophy-related job roles in AI has increased from 1% in 2013 to 16% in 2022 on PhilJobs, the primary job board for philosophers. Philosophers like Nick Bostrom have influenced AI research agendas, particularly regarding the potential risks of advanced AI systems.
Companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic are actively consulting philosophers to inform their AI design and ethical considerations. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman mentioned that the company consulted hundreds of moral philosophers during the development of ChatGPT. Anthropic published a detailed philosophical document outlining the ethical framework for its AI assistant, Claude.
The demand for philosophers in AI is reflected in job postings that offer competitive compensation for expertise in philosophy, with some roles paying up to $60 an hour. Google DeepMind has also called for more philosophers to address the societal implications of AI, employing at least ten philosophers to explore topics such as human-AI relationships and machine consciousness.
Academic institutions are responding to this trend by creating programs focused on AI and philosophy. Arizona State University plans to launch an AI-and-philosophy major in 2027, while the University of Buffalo is introducing a doctorate in applied ontology. Despite the growing interest, some academics express concerns about the potential for low-quality work driven by market demands and the fast-paced nature of the tech industry, which may conflict with the reflective nature of philosophical inquiry.
