Research Pillars

Our research is organized by the domains of philosophical inquiry that AI now makes pressingly relevant. Progress in AI requires a corresponding deepening of our understanding in these core areas.

1. Philosophy of Mind & AI
What is the relationship between human consciousness and artificial processing? Our research explores whether AI systems can achieve genuine understanding, experience, or agency. We investigate the nature of creativity and ask whether an AI can be truly inventive or if it is merely a sophisticated mimic.

2. Philosophy of Language & AI
How do AI systems relate to human meaning, communication, representation, intentionality, and understanding? We investigate whether large language models truly comprehend language or merely manipulate symbols. These are foundational questions about meaning, reference, and the nature of linguistic understanding that philosophers have explored for centuries.

3. Epistemology & AI Knowledge
How do we know when to trust the outputs of an AI? Our research applies foundational philosophical theories of knowledge, evidence, and reasoning to understand how AI systems acquire, process, and generate knowledge—and when that knowledge is reliable.

4. Ethics & AI
What moral status do AI systems possess, and what ethical obligations do we have regarding their development and use? We ground AI ethics in foundational moral philosophy, examining questions of responsibility, rights, and justice. This includes analyzing the full spectrum of moral challenges, from algorithmic bias to catastrophic risk.

5. Political Philosophy & AI
How will AI reshape power, governance, and social organization? Our research draws on political philosophy to understand how AI affects authority, governance, justice, and human flourishing. We explore how current political frameworks can best accommodate these transformative technologies.

6. Metaphysics of AI
Our research in metaphysics tackles the fundamental ontology of AI. Where, precisely, is an AI system located? How do we individuate one from another, and for how long do they persist through updates and modifications? We explore questions about their nature, their relationship to time, and the criteria for what it is for an artificial entity to exist over time.