The Ethical Philosophy of Industrial Design in Light of Artificial Intelligence

This research aims to shed light on the specific role of artificial intelligence (AI) in design from the perspective of ethical philosophy, emphasizing that AI is not a replacement for the human designer but rather an advanced tool used to enhance human creativity. The study argues that the creative designer is the one capable of harnessing available tools, such as AI, to express their unique creative vision, affirming that AI is a means of supporting—not replacing—the design process.
Ethical philosophy, a branch of philosophy, involves the regulation of concepts related to right and wrong behaviour, emphasizing the importance of pursuing what is morally right. Ethics has always been a central concern for philosophers across ages. Although their definitions and interpretations have varied, the core objective remains constant: ethics is behaviour. Behaviour can be either right or wrong. Right behaviour stems from values such as truth and goodness, while wrong behaviour results from life’s inconsistencies, which obscure the clear meaning of truth and goodness.
There are many misuses of artificial intelligence that pose intellectual and scientific threats to humanity. Ethical AI refers to the development and deployment of AI systems in ways that prioritize fairness, transparency, accountability, and respect for user privacy and autonomy. This involves creating AI that not only performs tasks efficiently but also aligns with societal values and ethical standards. Ethical AI seeks to ensure that these systems do not cause harm or injustice and that they are used to serve the public good.
ethical philosophy constitutes a critical framework that cannot be overlooked in AI-driven industrial design practices. Adherence to this framework helps guide the design process toward creating intelligent solutions that promote social justice, respect human values, and mitigate ethical risks related to bias, loss of responsibility, and cultural detachment.
Ethical AI seeks to fulfil this framework, though it remains in the research and development stage. For its proper implementation, collaborative efforts are required among developers, companies, governments, the public, and academic institutions. Furthermore, promoting education and public awareness serves as a foundational pillar for empowerment and accountability.
Through adherence to ethical principles and collective collaboration, we can steer AI to become a tool for justice and public benefit. From this perspective, despite the visually appealing outputs of AI-generated designs, achieving truly good design creative design that fulfils human needs cannot disregard the essential role of the human designer, even amid the tremendous technological advancement represented by AI. Creativity is a divine gift bestowed uniquely upon humans, who have in turn developed AI technology to facilitate and simplify various life domains not to replace humans. Nothing can substitute the creative human being, who was created by God to remain.
The creative industrial designer is thus the one who adapts AI applications to serve and support the design process while upholding intellectual property rights.