Artificial Autonomy or Relational Intelligence

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explains how a liberal account of autonomy is too individualistic and narrow to adequately capture the impact of the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) health monitoring technologies on people’s ability to determine how they would like health monitoring and data collection/sharing to take place. It follows Catriona Mackenzie’s tripartite conceptualization of autonomy (self-governance, self-determination, and self-authorization) and argues for a constitutively relational approach that problematizes the rapid development and adoption of AI health monitoring technologies. This conceptualization centers relationships and power asymmetries in bioethical analysis, and underscores how relationships can enhance or deprive people’s ability to exercise autonomy.