
About this episode
The episode explores the implications of AI-generated speech acts in the workplace and questions the authority of such commands given AI's lack of intention.
Speech acts - utterances that have the power to make things happen in the world - are increasingly being created by AI, especially in certain workplaces where it's not uncommon to receive orders and instructions from an algorithm. The power of a speech act is often understood as emanating from the intention of its author - but if AI lacks the capacity for intention, how much authority do AI-generated workplace commands really have?
Topics covered
- speech acts
- AI
- workplace commands
- intention
- authority
Keywords
- speech acts
- AI
- workplace
- commands
- intention
- authority
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AI
More episodes of Philosopher's Zone
- Can sport survive AI? · June 11, 2026 · 38 min
- Purity, filth and 'promiscuous defecators': why we're weird about poo · June 4, 2026 · 36 min
- Bad faith and 'just asking questions' · May 27, 2026 · 29 min
- 'Natural' disasters and climate justice · May 21, 2026 · 32 min
- Where am I? Buddhist philosophy and the self · May 12, 2026 · 39 min
- Common sense vs reason: when philosophy gets weird · May 7, 2026 · 35 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Philosopher's Zone podcast page.