Karma and Accountability in AI: A Philosophical and Ethical Analysis

Abstract

This article Karma and Accountability in AI: A Philosophical and Ethical Analysis examines how actions performed by artificial intelligence systems generate consequences, and how responsibility for those outcomes is assigned, drawing on ethical theories and the concept of karma to evaluate moral agency and accountability. It examines the conventional understandings of karma in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, highlighting the connection among action, intention, and outcome. According to karmic theory, deliberate acts that invariably result in commensurate outcomes, often referred to as karma-phala, give birth to moral obligation. This principle emphasizes the moral significance of personal accountability and the broader moral ramifications of human behaviour. The study further investigates contemporary challenges related to accountability in artificial intelligence, including the difficulty of assigning responsibility in complex technological systems, the problem of machine autonomy, and the emergence of the “responsibility gap” in AI decision-making. By comparing karmic theory with Western ethical frameworks, the article analyzes how different philosophical traditions address moral responsibility and ethical evaluation. It also explores the question of whether AI systems themselves can possess karma, concluding that while machines lack consciousness and moral intention, the humans involved in designing and deploying AI systems remain ethically accountable for their outcomes. Finally, the article argues that karmic philosophy provides a valuable ethical perspective for understanding accountability in AI development. By emphasizing the connection between intention, action, and consequence, the concept of karma can contribute to discussions on responsible AI and the establishment of ethical governance in emerging technologies.