Etica dell'intelligenza artificiale

by Luciano Floridi, Massimo Durante (Curator)

Istruzione, commercio, industria, viaggi, divertimento, sanità, politica, relazioni sociali, in breve la vita stessa sta diventando inconcepibile senza le tecnologie, i servizi, i prodotti digitali. Questa trasformazione epocale implica dubbi e preoccupazioni, ma anche straordinarie opportunità. Proprio perché la rivoluzione digitale è iniziata da poco abbiamo la possibilità di modellarla in senso positivo, a vantaggio dell'umanità e del pianeta. Ma a condizione di capire meglio di cosa stiamo parlando. È cruciale comprendere le trasformazioni tecnologiche in atto e uno dei passaggi oggi fondamentali è quello dell'intelligenza artificiale, della sua natura e delle sue sfide etiche, che Luciano Floridi affronta in questo libro, offrendo il suo contributo di idee a un quanto mai necessario sforzo collettivo di intelligenza.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Science, Technology, Computer Science

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Luciano Floridi is currently Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute, Governing Body Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, Senior Member of the Faculty of Philosophy, Research Associate and Fellow in Information Policy at the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics.

Floridi is best known for his work on two areas of philosophical research: the philosophy of information and information ethics.

Between 2008 and 2013, he held the Research Chair in philosophy of information and the UNESCO Chair in Information and Computer Ethics at the University of Hertfordshire. He was the founder and director of the IEG, an interdepartmental research group on the philosophy of information at the University of Oxford, and of the GPI, the research Group in Philosophy of Information at the University of Hertfordshire. He was the founder and director of the SWIF, the Italian e-journal of philosophy (1995–2008).

Reviews

[Nestornotabili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non ho dubbi: si tratta di un volume molto acuto e interessante che avrei voluto scrivere io. L’ho consumato da quanto l’ho letto e sono certa che ancora qualcosa mi sfugga.

[Francesco Cavaliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro attualissimo, anche se forse già parzialmente superato a causa della diffusione su larga scala dei modelli di OpenAI, avvenuta subito dopo la pubblicazione del libro e che ha cambiato un po' le prospettive dell'AI.

L'argomento è affrontato in maniera completa, dettagliata ed equilibrata. Ma d'altronde, dal prof. Floridi, non ci si poteva aspettare meno.

La lettura, contrariamente ad altre opere dell'autore, non richiede particolari conoscenze pregresse ed è quindi accessibile a chiunque sia interessato ad approfondire l'argomento.

[Gianluca Cominato · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Must-Read for Anyone Navigating the AI Revolution
Luciano Floridi has established himself as one of the most influential voices in the philosophy of information, and this book demonstrates precisely why. "Ethics of Artificial Intelligence" is a comprehensive, thought-provoking exploration of the moral challenges posed by AI technologies that are increasingly shaping every aspect of our lives.
What sets Floridi apart from other authors writing about AI ethics is his ability to construct a coherent philosophical framework rather than simply cataloguing concerns. His concept of the infosphere and the notion of onlife provide readers with powerful conceptual tools to understand our current technological condition. These are not mere buzzwords but carefully developed ideas that illuminate how profoundly digital technologies have transformed the human experience.
The book's greatest strength lies in its balanced approach. Floridi avoids both naive techno-optimism and paralyzing techno-pessimism. Instead, he offers a nuanced perspective that acknowledges AI's tremendous potential while remaining clear-eyed about its risks. His five ethical principles for AI—beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and explainability—provide a practical framework that can guide developers, policymakers, and citizens alike.
Particularly compelling is Floridi's analysis of AI as a "divorced" technology—one that separates the ability to act from genuine understanding. This insight alone is worth the price of admission, as it helps explain why even highly performing AI systems can fail in unexpected ways and why human oversight remains essential.
The discussion on algorithmic opacity and the right to explanation is especially timely, given the proliferation of black-box systems making consequential decisions about credit, employment, and criminal justice. Floridi makes a convincing case that explainability is not just a technical nice-to-have but a fundamental requirement for democratic accountability.
I also appreciated the emphasis on environmental sustainability—what Floridi calls "green digital." Too often, discussions of AI ethics focus exclusively on social impacts while ignoring the significant carbon footprint of training and deploying large-scale models. Floridi rightfully insists that ecological considerations must be part of any comprehensive ethical assessment.
Why Not Five Stars?
While the book is excellent, it occasionally suffers from the dense, academic prose that characterizes much philosophical writing. Some passages require multiple readings to fully grasp, which may frustrate readers looking for more accessible content. Additionally, while Floridi excels at theoretical analysis, the book could benefit from more concrete case studies and practical examples that illustrate how his principles apply in real-world scenarios.
The rapid pace of AI development also means that some specific examples and concerns discussed may feel slightly dated, though the underlying philosophical framework remains highly relevant.
The Verdict
If you are passionate about artificial intelligence—whether as a developer, researcher, policymaker, business leader, or simply an engaged citizen—this book is essential reading. Floridi provides the intellectual tools to think critically and systematically about the ethical dimensions of AI, moving beyond headlines and hype to engage with the deeper questions at stake.
In an era when AI is transforming everything from healthcare to warfare, from employment to democracy, we desperately need thoughtful frameworks for navigating these changes. Floridi delivers exactly that. This is not light beach reading, but for those willing to engage seriously with the material, the rewards are substantial.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand not just how AI works, but how it should work—and what responsibilities we bear in shaping its future.

[Ben Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a light read, nor is it a page-turner; it’s a dense and well-researched text that refers heavily to other works by the author and others, as well as relevant government initiatives, especially those in Europe. The author starts by challenging the popular notion that artificial intelligence is actually intelligent, arguing instead that AI is a form of agency that can carry out tasks that would otherwise require our intelligence. He paints this decoupling of task and intelligence as part of a broader decoupling typical of our digital era (consider how our physical presence is now divorced from our mental presence, as entire groups of people stare at their phones). He goes on to cover the essential topics of the ethics of AI, from biased automation to criminal uses to the impact on climate change and other social issues. I recommend this book, just be prepared to put in the effort.

[Alessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'ho letto per prepararmi ad una docenza sull'IA applicata al contesto della psicologia giuridica. Floridi è un caposaldo dell'etica ed è in grado, con il suo scritto, di trattare in modo semplice ma approfondito un argomento così tanto spesso oggetto di malinterpretazioni.
Consiglio di leggerlo, soprattutto se non si conosce molto dell'argomento e si ha qualche remora relativa all'IA, cosa sia ed il suo utilizzo.

[sus ⊹⟡₊⋆∘ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Floridi io ti odierò per sempre.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno tra i libri più interessanti che abbia mai letto nella mia vita. Penso che farà da timone per il futuro.

[Maria Serafini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interessante la prima parte, poi troppo specifico per filosofi ed esperti in generale, non ha nulla di divulgativo

[Gonzalo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muy completo y accesible. Lo mejor que he leído de filosofía y ética de la IA. Aunque tampoco es que hubiera una bara muy alta, pero lo agradezco. Muy socialdemócrata y con un claro espíritu europeísta regulador. Pero al menos acepta la existencia del coste de oportunidad, que ya es mucho teniendo en cuenta el panorama.