A place where “You can be who you've always wanted to be…” Examining the ethics of intelligent virtual environments

Abstract

The rapid development of interactive virtual reality (VR) spaces like VRChat has been made possible due to continuing increases in computer processing power, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), and advances in 3D modelling and spatial and edge computing. Perhaps because these spaces rely on new ways of integrating different forms of advanced computing, such as AI and VR, little is yet known about their potential ethical implications. In this contribution, we provide an overview of key themes frequently discussed in the context of these so-called Intelligent Virtual Environments (IVEs). We highlight different ethical questions and the ways in which they are typically taken up in the literature. We first map how common concerns tend to revolve around technological feasibility and psychological impacts. We then ask how shifting the focus towards more philosophical perspectives might reorient discussions surrounding IVEs, opening up important avenues for future research. Our contribution in this review is to highlight how as active mediators of experience these technologies require critical reflection and should not be evaluated solely in terms of their functionality.