The Formula of Humanity and AI Use

Abstract Aylsworth and Castro have argued that, following Kant’s Formula of Humanity, using ChatGPT to write humanities essays constitutes a violation of a duty to cultivate one’s humanity. I first turn to a critical evaluation of their argument and then point to a further dimension in which the FH has a bearing on the ethics of AI use. My positive contribution is to propose that Kant’s Formula of Humanity can contribute to the ethics of LLM use when we focus on the prohibition against treating others as mere means. Kant’s practical philosophy is in an excellent position to capture both the danger of treating others as mere means and to account for the value of being a means. AI may endanger both: the status of some workers as ends rather than mere means and the ability of workers to function as ends on their own terms.