An Onto-Relational-Sophic Framework for Governing Synthetic Minds

Current AI governance frameworks are outdated for advanced systems: The paper argues that existing regulatory approaches treat AI as tools and focus narrowly on algorithmic bias and transparency, but fail to address fundamental questions about what increasingly capable AI systems actually are and how society should relate to them.

AI systems may require a new ontological category beyond "tool or person": The framework proposes a "graded spectrum of digital personhood" that moves beyond binary classifications, suggesting that advanced synthetic minds occupy a distinct mode of being that is "irreducibly multi-dimensional rather than purely computational."

Governance should integrate multiple ethical frameworks: Rather than relying on a single approach, the paper recommends combining virtue ethics, consequentialism, and relational ethics through "Cybersophy" to create more nuanced and adaptive governance principles for different AI applications.

Real-world AI scenarios demand proportionate, context-specific oversight: The framework is tested on concrete scenarios including autonomous research agents, AI-mediated healthcare, and interconnected AI ecosystems, suggesting that governance recommendations should vary based on the specific capabilities and social context of each application.

We need new conceptual language for responsible AI development: The paper emphasizes that moving beyond narrow "technical alignment" requires developing shared philosophical and relational frameworks that help society understand what synthetic minds are and how to govern them responsibly.