Ubuntu in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance: Towards an Inclusive and Democratic Technological Future

Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities, but at the same time, it poses significant ethical challenges. In this paper, I explore the potential for Ubuntu—a Southern African philosophy that emphasises community, interconnectedness, and mutual care—to guide AI governance. Ubuntu offers a critical lens through which one can comment on the effect of AI on society, underscoring values such as inclusivity, empathy, and collective well-being. In the future, infusing principles of Ubuntu within the governance of AI will supply a more holistic approach with prime human dignity and social justice at the forefront. I argue that the inclusion of Ubuntu in AI policy and regulation can help lower biases, increase accountability, and ensure transparency in AI systems. By a normative critical approach, I unpack the philosophical underpinnings of Ubuntu, its bearings on contemporary ethical debates in AI, and the potential to transform AI governance. Comparative analyses with existing ethical frameworks underline what is peculiar about the contribution that Ubuntu can make toward democratic engagement and inclusivity in AI development and deployment. I conclude by putting forward some concrete actions for policy decision-makers, technologists, and scholars in taking Ubuntu principles into AI governance, underscoring the fact that global collaboration plays a very integral part in shaping good ethical futures for AI. I thus call for a paradigm shift in this all-inclusive AI ecosystem where technology remains only a means to better human flourishing and social cohesion.