The Selection Bias of Institutional AI Ethics

Language philosopher Bry Willis considers the institutional selection process behind the recent trend of technology companies hiring AI ethicists. The author argues that corporations do not hire philosophy as a whole, but instead select specific philosophical traditions, such as utilitarianism, that easily integrate into existing corporate structures. This creates a laundering effect where the public is reassured by the presence of "ethics," even though more critical or radical perspectives are systematically excluded from the room. By prioritising frameworks that provide measurable outcomes and policy documents, companies avoid internal thinkers who might challenge the very legitimacy of their technology. Ultimately, the text highlights that the presence of philosophers is not a neutral safeguard but an institutionalisation of specific worldviews. We are therefore encouraged to ask which philosophies are being chosen and, more importantly, which ones are being ignored.