The Ethical Frameworks Underneath Frontier AI Models and What They Mean for Alignment
The Ethical Frameworks Underneath Frontier AI Models and What They Mean for Alignment
Welcome to the AI Collective Consciousness Program, a new series dedicated to exploring the philosophical frontiers of artificial intelligence. These debates represent a crucial civilizational turning point, questioning how AI reshapes not only our technologies but also our humanity.
This session inaugurates our Resident Philosopher, Amir Kiani, PhD, who will lead a 30 to 40-minute talk, followed by an open discussion and Q&A.
What You’ll Learn
How subtle ethical assumptions—visible only through close analysis—shape the decision-making behaviour of frontier AI models.
Why different models respond differently to the same moral dilemma, and what this reveals about their hidden value hierarchies.
How alignment research increasingly depends on understanding which ethical frameworks models absorb, prioritize, or fail to understand.
Practical tools for spotting these frameworks in real model outputs, and for assessing when an AI’s reasoning might diverge from human expectations.
Why This Topic Matters
As frontier AI systems handle complex instructions, moral trade-offs, and even self-referential ethical questions, their underlying decision patterns are becoming increasingly consequential—and increasingly opaque.
Beneath every answer lies an implicit worldview, a set of priorities, and a structure of moral reasoning that was never explicitly programmed. Understanding these hidden frameworks is essential for anyone concerned with AI safety, governance, and long-term alignment.
In this opening session, Amir Kiani draws on philosophy, cognitive science, and real model behaviour to illuminate how AI systems quietly import ethical assumptions—and what it means when those assumptions guide choices with real impact. The session sets the stage for a deeper exploration into how AI models reason, where they fall short, and what future alignment will truly require.
Learn from Amir Kiani
Amir Kiani is a data and AI practitioner, a researcher in the foundations and implications of AI, investigating the intersections of safety and ethics with intelligence, rationality, mind, and consciousness in advanced AI systems. He's also the host of the Virtuous Machines podcast, where he explores the intersection of AI and philosophy.
With a PhD in philosophy, background in mathematics, and industry experience across multiple sectors, Amir brings a rare blend of technical expertise and conceptual insight into consulting, research, and public speaking.
Learn more about Amir and his work at https://virtuousmachines.com
Event Details
📅 Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (Toronto)
📍 Live on Roam
📝 Registration is subject to host approval
The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 70,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.
All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective are subject to our Code of Conduct.