Graham Finlay

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About

Graham Finlay is a philosopher and AI ethicist whose work bridges the gap between abstract moral theory and the practical design of intelligent systems. His primary research areas include the ethics of artificial intelligence, the philosophy of technology, and the concept of “ethics-in-the-small”—a framework for embedding moral reasoning into the everyday, low-stakes decisions made by AI agents. Finlay’s most notable contribution is his 2022 paper, “Empathetic AI for ethics-in-the-small,” which has garnered 5 citations and proposes a novel approach to designing AI that can simulate empathy to navigate nuanced, context-dependent ethical dilemmas. This work challenges the dominant focus on high-stakes, rule-based ethics in AI, arguing instead for systems that can learn from and respond to the subtle moral textures of human interaction. Finlay’s research is particularly impactful for students and researchers in human-computer interaction and responsible AI development, as it offers a tangible path toward machines that are not just compliant with ethical principles, but genuinely sensitive to the moral complexity of everyday life. His work stands out for its clarity and its insistence that ethics must be built into the very fabric of AI, not just bolted on as an afterthought.