Abstract

One of the more philosophical issues in artificial intelligence (AI) ethics is the debate on whether an AI-based entity such as a robot can ever be considered a moral patient. The debate revolves around the question of whether such an entity could conceivably have interests that would warrant the conclusion that it should have rights akin to human or animal rights. This paper explores an alternative point of view, where the appropriate analogy is not a sentient being but a cultural artifact such as a great work of art. Such an artifact, while not strictly speaking a moral patient, is arguably due some level of moral consideration and moral agents may have an obligation to protect it. By considering AI-based entities as cultural artifacts, an argument can be made that 1) such entities do, in some cases, have substantial intrinsic value based on their cultural significance, 2) such entities have certain special qualities that distinguish them as a category from other, closely related technological artifacts, and 3) the above considerations are already applicable to entities that exist today, not just to hypothetical future sentient or conscious machines.