The Ontology of Artificial Intelligence Agency and Its Ethical Implications from Verbeek’s Perspective

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy of the Contemporary Era, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy of Science, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

10.22108/mph.2026.149707.1740

Abstract

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into decision-making has made AI agency a central concern in the philosophy of technology and AI ethics. Prevailing accounts explain agency through the dichotomy of AI as either a mere tool or an autonomous agent. However, this framework fails to capture the complexity of actions emerging from human–technology interactions. To address this limitation, this study employs conceptual analysis grounded in Peter-Paul Verbeek’s philosophy of technology, particularly the concept of technological mediation, to reconceptualize the ontology of AI agency in light of contemporary intelligent systems.

The analysis demonstrates that agency cannot be regarded as an inherent property of either humans or artificial intelligence; rather, it should be understood as a mediated phenomenon that takes shape through human–technology interaction. Accordingly, AI can be understood neither as a neutral tool nor as a self-sufficient agent, but rather as an entity that plays a role in shaping human perception, choice, and action. This reconceptualization has implications for rethinking the moral subject, design, and responsibility in mediated terms, and opens the way for rethinking the responsibility gap. From this perspective, reconceptualizing the ontology of AI agency provides a foundation for analyzing the ethical issues arising from human–technology relations in intelligent environment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Metaphysics

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 September 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 July 2026
  • Revise Date: 10 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 23 September 2026

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