Click Here Examining AI’s ‘Culpability’
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Sep 30, 2025 Bruce Holsinger, a fiction writer and University of Virginia professor, dives into the complex interaction between AI and morality through his novel, Culpability. He explores how autonomous machines influence our understanding of justice and family dynamics. The discussion covers the ethical dilemmas of self-driving cars, the role of surveillance in shaping behavior, and whether we can shift guilt onto technology. Holsinger also reflects on AI's future and his personal experiences with it, painting a nuanced portrait of our relationship with machines.
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Fiction As A Cautionary Mirror
- Bruce Holsinger wrote Culpability to urge readers to slow down as AI permeates life.
- He frames the novel as a cautionary story that remains an engaging family drama.
Minivan Opening Frames The Ethical Crisis
- The book opens with a minivan accident where the teen sits in the driver's seat while the van is in self-driving mode.
- Holsinger uses that accident to explore agency, accountability, and family guilt.
Author Tried Waymo And Semi-Autonomous Cars
- While drafting the novel Holsinger test-drove semi-autonomous cars and Waymo vehicles to research realism.
- He found them reliable but still uncanny, informing his portrayal of autonomous driving.
