Dalla cibernetica all’intelligenza artificiale. Ascesa e declino del dibattito sullo scopo

This paper aims to briefly retrace some fundamental stages which, from the middle of the last century to nowadays, have led to the diffusion of a wide series of technologies attributable to the notion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In more detail, after having examined some recent definitions developed in the European jurisdiction, the key characteristics of the notion of AI will be set out to reflect on the «humanist» argument in the version formulated by Hans Jonas in 1953 as well as on the question of the purpose. Recovering Jonas’ approach, the paper will then aim to reintroduce into today’s debate some issues that still seem relevant to regulating AI: the problem of purposes alongside uses, the plurality of levels of purpose, and the need for an ethical relationship between means and ends.