Explaining AI ethics-washing trend from @var.aunevik
The creator analyzes the trend of AI companies hiring philosophers by first explaining their role in teaching AI morals, then introducing the critical perspective that corporate philosophy is an oxymoron. She defines the term 'ethics-washing' by comparing it to green-washing, and concludes by questioning whether for-profit companies will prioritize ethics over investor interests, leaving the audience with a final thought-provoking question.
Creator: @var.aunevik on Instagram
Video format
Talking Head Edit
Video outline
- Pose a surprising trend
- Introduce a critical counter-argument
- Define a negative concept
- End with an open question
Narrative framework
The Critical Reframe
Narrative framework logic
Present a seemingly positive or straightforward trend, introduce a critical counter-argument that reframes it negatively, and conclude by posing a dilemma to the audience, forcing them to weigh the two conflicting perspectives.
Topics: Philosophy, Tech, Business, Sociology
Concepts: Breakdown, Headlines
Formats: Talking Head Edit
Elements: B-Roll Cutaway, Image Overlay, Title Text Hook, Meme Integration
Account types: Personal Brand
Transcript excerpt
Why are all major AI companies now hiring philosophers? Someone finishes a philosophy Tier, eight years in moral philosophy. They graduate and instead of the usual adjunct position, they get a call from Silicon Valley. Six figures, the job is to have conversations with AI. Decide what it says when you tell it you're sad. Write the document that teaches it right from wrong. Anthropics philosopher Amanda Eskell did that. The Wall Street Journal called it teaching Claude how to be good. And it's important worse, no doubt. But I read something interesting in Wired recently, that a philosopher inside a corporation is almost an oxymoron, because the questions you're allowed to ask are kind of decided before you even arrive. Philosophy survived without being useful because it had no employer. It could look at power and say, this is wrong. If you put that on a payroll, something changes. There's even a term for what it can become, ethics washing. Hard questions being asked without the answers needing to go anywhere inconvenient. It's the same move as printing conscious on a green label. And even with a philosopher in the room, for profit companies answer to investors, not to their ethicist
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