A matter of principle: A response to Stephen Downes’s “On ethical AI principles”

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25619/129g6j48

Keywords:

Principle, AI, generative AI, GenAI, education, ethics, technology

Abstract

This paper is written as a response to Stephen Downes’s “On ethical AI principles”, that we recommend should be read in advance.  Though framed as a critique,  it builds on Downes’s work, filling in gaps and arguments that we believe to be missing from the original and challenging some assumptions, while acknowledging the soundness of the underlying messages. Our central point of disagreement stems from Downes’s implied definition of the word “principle”.  We extend the argument from Downes’s generic concerns about principles to a more specific educational context, highlight fuzziness in definitions, and reframe Downes’s concerns that principles are political as more general issues of power.

Author Biographies

  • Jon Dron, Athabasca University

    Jon Dron is an associate dean, learning & assessment, and full professor at Athabasca University, based in the Faculty of Science and Technology. He has received national and institutional awards for his teaching, is author of various award-winning research papers, and is a regular keynote speaker. His cross-disciplinary research mainly centres around issues of technology, learning, and education, about which he has authored three books. He sang swing for a living for 10 years, before becoming an IT support manager and, finally, an academic. He has formal qualifications in philosophy, information systems, university education, and learning technologies.

  • Stella George, Athabasca University

    Stella George, BSc. (hons), Ph.D. is an associate professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems at Athabasca University. She joined the School of Computing and Information Science at Athabasca University in 2019. Dr George’s research focusses on the impact of AI on society and education and, the use of digital technologies in education. Dr George gained her PhD from the University of Exeter, UK in 1995 and worked in the application of AI to banks, credit card organizations and stock exchanges world wide. Her other interests include public education about AI, cross-disciplinary education and project management

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Published

2026-05-22

Data Availability Statement

N/A

Issue

EARLY ACCESS

Section

Critical Reflections

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Jon Dron, Stella George

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