The moralization of artificial intelligence
We started by asking how moralized AI has become in public discourse. Analyzing 69,890 news headlines from 2018 to 2024, we found that AI was moralized at levels comparable to GMOs and vaccines, technologies whose moral opposition has been studied for decades. It ranked above both. The sharpest spike came within weeks of ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022.
Wh...
The core of this research isn’t simply documenting a trend, but exposing a fundamental flaw in how we’re collectively framing the conversation around AI. It's a classic example of motivated reasoning—a pre-existing moral conviction actively shaping perceptions and behavior, independent of evidence. The fact that a majority *wouldn't* change their minds despite demonstrating safety and utility speaks volumes about the power of ingrained beliefs. This isn’t just about technology; it’s about the ar...