Yuk Hui: The Technosophe Redefining Artificial Intelligence
Yuk Hui’s vision of artificial intelligence and the intersection between technology, philosophy, and culture offers a unique and provocative perspective that challenges our conventional conceptions.
Yuk Hui, a philosopher and university professor from Hong Kong, proposes an incarnational view of artificial intelligence (AI), arguing that AIs are bodies and raising philosophical questions about perception, action, and morality. Hui, an expert in computer engineering, is a philosopher within technology, or a “technosophe.” He has defined a controversial and divergent position from most critics on AI.
Hui contends that we have not considered how our relationship with cybernetic reality works, nor the possibilities of it adapting to the multiple forms of knowledge of each particular culture. According to Hui, humans are technological beings. We invent technology, yes, but at the same time, we are continually invented by our techniques.
Philosophy and Technology
Yuk Hui is distinguished for his pioneering work at the intersection of technology and philosophy, where he has explored various themes with depth and originality. His first monograph, “On the Existence of Digital Objects” (2016), pays homage to the work of Gilbert Simondon, a French philosopher known for his ideas on the ontology of technology. This work lays the groundwork for understanding the existence and nature of digital objects in the contemporary context.
Subsequently, Hui addresses the question of technology from a Chinese perspective in his book “The Question of Technology in China: An Essay in Cosmotechnics” (2016). This work responds to Martin Heidegger’s classic essay, “The Question Concerning Technology,” published in 1953. Here, Hui expands the debate on the relationship between technology and culture, exploring how Chinese cosmotechnics offers an alternative and complementary view to Western philosophy of technology.
In his third monograph, “Recursivity and Contingency” (2019), Hui delves into the realm of cybernetics from a philosophical perspective. This treatise explores the concepts of recursion and contingency in technological systems and how they influence our understanding of the digital world and its relationship with the physical world.
Continuing his research, Hui publishes “Art and Cosmotechnics” (2021), a sequel that expands his work on recursion and cosmotechnics, exploring the intersections between art, technology, and culture. These works represent a significant contribution to the field of philosophy of technology, offering new perspectives and approaches to understanding the nature and impact of technology on contemporary society.
The Relationship with Eastern Philosophy
Yuk Hui’s work is notable for its deep relationship with Eastern philosophy, despite his training in Western philosophical tradition. Hui strives to go beyond the boundaries of this tradition and open up to other forms of thought, recognizing their richness and relevance in the contemporary world. In this sense, Hui has explored concepts such as the “living machine” and “Eastern cybernetic thought,” which offer alternative perspectives on the relationship between technology and life.
By arguing that the current development of digital technology is questioning the philosophical foundations of the mechanical-organic model, Hui challenges conventional conceptions about technology and human nature. His approach seeks to integrate Eastern wisdom into contemporary philosophical discourse, recognizing its potential to enrich our understanding of technology and its impact on society. In this sense, his work represents a valuable contribution to rethinking the relationship between humanity and technology in the digital age.
Cosmotechnics and Technodiversity
The concept of “cosmotechnics” proposed by Yuk Hui represents a departure from dominant Eurocentric narratives about technology. This post-European philosophy seeks to open up to other technical-productive conceptions that are not solely motivated by the pursuit of profit under the neoliberal paradigm. Instead, it seeks to reconstruct a technological thought that is genuinely inclusive and sensitive to the diverse forms of knowledge present in different cultures.
By advocating for a vision of technology that considers cultural diversity, Hui challenges the idea that technology is a universal and homogeneous phenomenon. Instead, he recognizes that different cultures have unique perspectives on technology, seeing it as an extension of their own cultural and social identity. This perspective is inspired by Eastern philosophies, which traditionally have conceived of technology as an integral part of life and society, rather than a separate element. Ultimately, Hui’s concept of “cosmotechnics” promotes a more inclusive and holistic approach to technology, recognizing its deep interconnection with culture and society as a whole.
Phenomenology of Artificial Intelligence
Yuk Hui raises questions about whether a robot, upon entering a room and staring at us intently, can or cannot understand what is important in such a specific environment. These reflections, imbued with Hui’s unique vision of technology and artificial intelligence, show how these disciplines intertwine with philosophy and culture.
Hui’s approach offers a valuable perspective for understanding the intersection of these disciplines, as it questions the underlying assumptions about the nature of intelligence and perception, and how these are reflected in the design and development of technology. His work invites us to reflect on the relationship between technology and society, as well as the ethical and philosophical implications of our technological creations. Ultimately, he challenges us to reconsider our conceptions of intelligence and technology in the modern world.
