By Armoni M. Blount
Dr. Tiffany Zhu, recently appointed assistant professor of global ethics and technology at Ϲ, brings a fresh and deeply personal approach to philosophy.
Her journey into the discipline wasn’t sparked in a classroom, but rather in a used bookstore — where a collection of philosophical short stories opened the door to a new passion.
“I had no idea what philosophy was in college,” Dr. Zhu said. “The catalyst came after graduation. I came across a cool book that introduced fundamental philosophical questions through original short stories.”
From there, she immersed herself in philosophy podcasts and started a local reading group. “I felt like I had finally found my people,” she says.
Here, she answers questions about her ideas and scholarship.
Advice for aspiring philosophers
Dr. Zhu encourages students interested in philosophy to embrace curiosity and explore broadly.
“Stay curious and read widely,” she advises. “Philosophy thrives on diverse perspectives.”
Why AI ethics and epistemology matter
Specializing in artificial intelligence ethics, epistemology, and social philosophy, Dr. Zhu is driven by a fascination with how people form beliefs — especially unconventional ones. Epistemology is the study of the nature and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity.
Dr. Zhu sees generative AI as a powerful force shaping our perceptions of ourselves and society.
“It’s crucial to examine how language and imagery portray social patterns,” she explains. “We need principled norms to guide the development and use of generative AI.”
Making philosophy accessible
As a first-generation college student, Dr. Zhu understands how intimidating philosophy can seem. She’s committed to making it approachable by using podcasts and connecting class material to current events.
“I know how intimidating it can feel to study an unfamiliar subject” she says.
“I don’t assume prior technical knowledge, assign podcast episodes and material other than book chapters and journal articles, and always connect lessons to real world issues.”
The ethical challenge of our time
From AI generated videos of deceased family members to ChatGPT therapy sessions, AI has taken the world by storm. When asked about the biggest ethical question regarding AI in our society today, Dr. Zhu asked, “Will the popularization of generative AI connect us or further divide us?”