Ammar Younas

The prevailing discourse comparing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Intelligence (NI) overlooks a critical dimension: culture. Intelligence, whether artificial or human, cannot be fully understood without recognizing its cultural foundations and adaptive contexts. This Perspective introduces two key contributions. First, it defines the Cultural Cognition Gap, the disconnect between AI’s static, pattern-based reasoning and the dynamic, culturally adaptive nature of human cognition, evident in real-world deployment failures. Second, it proposes Culture Driven AI, a conceptual and normative framework advocating for AI systems designed to engage with cultural plurality and fluidity as central features of intelligent behavior. By situating intelligence within its cultural contexts, this work highlights the limitations of current AI design and calls for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop systems that are not only technically aligned but also culturally attuned, ethically grounded, and responsive to the diverse realities of human societies.

The growing momentum to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) education into early schooling raises critical concerns about ethical readiness. Teaching technical skills in the absence of moral development risks producing a generation ill-equipped to navigate the profound societal consequences of AI. In response to this challenge, we introduce the moral grounding model (MGM), a values-first model of education that prioritizes ethics, cultural awareness, and relational thinking before technical instruction. To support this model, we examine a range of Eastern educational traditions, demonstrating how moral and philosophical training historically preceded specialization. We further connect these traditions to contemporary AI ethics principles such as fairness, accountability, and safety, to demonstrate how foundational moral education can inform the ethical development, design, and governance of AI systems. The paper concludes by advocating a values-first curriculum that cultivates future technologists who are not only capable but ethically conscious and socially responsible.

The Urdu and Pashto term ghairat is often translated into English as ‘honour’, but this translation fails to capture its full ethical depth and cultural specificity. In South Asian and Muslim-majority societies, ghairat refers not simply to an individual’s reputation but to a deeply embedded, gendered moral code of vigilance, modesty and communal dignity. Even Pakistan’s Supreme Court has remarked that ghairat lacks a precise English equivalent, noting that in some contexts, it carries a connotation closer to ‘arrogance’ than ‘honour’.1 Western discourse is most familiar with ghairat through media coverage of ‘honor killings’, where women are killed by family members for perceived moral lapses. While such acts are undeniably brutal and ethically indefensible, they reflect a distorted and extreme manifestation of ghairat. The concept itself operates much more widely and subtly in everyday decisions, shaping family roles, gender norms and even access to healthcare. In its idealised form, ghairat embodies dignity and a sense of moral responsibility to protect family and community integrity. In its harmful form, it can become a mechanism of control and oppression, especially for women, limiting autonomy and delaying or denying essential care. In healthcare settings, the influence of ghairat often becomes starkly visible. …

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare systems, offering advances in diagnosis, treatment, and operational efficiency. However, the cultural assumptions embedded in AI training data often misalign with the sociocultural realities of diverse patient populations—a phenomenon we term the Cultural Calibration Gap (CCG). This conceptual paper defines the CCG as a structural and epistemic deficit, distinct from algorithmic bias or dataset shift, that undermines clinical validity, patient trust, and health equity. We analyze how culturally uncalibrated AI systems exacerbate disparities in diagnosis and care, compromise informed consent, and erode trust, particularly in communities with collective, spiritual, or traditional health frameworks. To address the CCG, we propose a three-pronged strategy: epistemic inclusion of diverse knowledge systems and data sources, participatory design grounded in community-based research, and regulatory reform mandating cultural responsiveness in model validation and oversight. We argue that tackling the CCG is not merely an ethical imperative but a scientific necessity, aligning healthcare AI with the evolving vision of human-centric, adaptive Healthcare 5.0. Culturally calibrated AI systems promise not only improved precision and trustworthiness but also more equitable and contextually meaningful care across global health landscapes.

In the expanding discourse on AI alignment and ethics, interdisciplinarity and cultural inclusivity are often treated as intrinsic goods. This has led to a proliferation of efforts connecting artificial intelligence with diverse cultural, religious, and philosophical frameworks. While such engagements can offer valuable perspectives, they also risk producing epistemic distortions when pursued without a clear rationale or contextual necessity. This paper identifies two such distortions: forced relevance and coerced inclusion. It first interrogates the growing tendency to draw connections between AI and external frameworks—such as theology, feminism, or postcolonial theory—not because a specific ethical or technical challenge demands them, but because these discourses are academically available or currently in vogue. When interdisciplinarity is treated as an end in itself, it risks instrumentalizing both AI and the traditions it draws upon, obscuring the purposes of each. Second, the paper challenges the assumption that all communities seek or ought to seek participation in global AI ethics discourse. Ethical reasoning in many traditions may be expressed through silence, ritual, or non-textual forms that do not conform to dominant expectations of discursive inclusion. When legitimacy is linked to visibility, these epistemologies are often sidelined. To address these concerns, the paper introduces the concept of epistemic modesty, a principled stance that respects irrelevance, dignifies refusal, and accepts non-participation as a legitimate ethical position. Rather than rejecting cultural engagement, it advocates for a more thoughtful and pluralistic approach to cross-cultural AI, one that listens carefully, engages selectively, and upholds the right not to align.

This paper explores the foundational question: What is Pakistani philosophy? Rather than seeking to define it as an existing school of thought, the inquiry examines its perceived absence, its displacement into adjacent domains, and the structural conditions under which a distinct philosophical tradition might emerge. Despite a rich intellectual landscape across law, theology, literature, and ethics, Pakistan has not developed a formally recognized philosophical canon. The paper engages with the intellectual legacy of Allama Iqbal, widely regarded as a pivotal philosophical voice—and considers how his ideas continue to inform discourse while remaining open to reinterpretation in light of contemporary challenges. It further explores how philosophical inquiry in Pakistan often occurs through non-philosophical fields such as jurisprudence, mysticism, and activism. Arguing that such a tradition is unlikely to emerge from current institutional settings, the paper suggests that it will more plausibly be shaped by independent thinkers across disciplines. It concludes by outlining the contours of a future Pakistani

This paper introduces the concept of AI-inclusive epistemology, suggesting that artificial intelligence (AI) may develop its own epistemological perspectives, function as an epistemic agent, and assume the role of a quasi-member of society. We explore the unique capabilities of advanced AI systems and their potential to provide distinct insights within knowledge systems traditionally dominated by human cognition. Additionally, the paper proposes a framework for a sustainable symbiotic society where AI and human intelligences collaborate to enhance the breadth and depth of epistemological pursuits. Through this exploration, we aim to redefine conventional knowledge paradigms by integrating the AI perspective, thereby fostering a more comprehensive and dynamic epistemological landscape.

As the scope of innovative technologies is expanding, their implications and applications are increasingly intersecting with various facets of society, including the deeply rooted traditions of religion. This paper embarks on an exploratory journey to bridge the perceived divide between advancements in technology and faith, aiming to catalyze a dialogue between the religious and scientific communities. The former often views technological progress through a lens of conflict rather than compatibility. By utilizing a technology-centric perspective, we draw metaphorical parallels between the functionalities of new technologies and some theological concepts of Islam. The purpose is not to reinterpret religious concepts but to illustrate how these two domains can coexist harmoniously. This comparative analysis serves as a conversation starter with an intention to mitigate any apprehensions towards technology by highlighting its potential to align with religious concepts. By fostering an environment where technological innovations are seen as tools for enhancement rather than threats to tradition, we contribute to a more inclusive discourse that encourages the religious community to engage with and potentially embrace contemporary technological advancements.

This paper explores the potential of integrating ancient educational principles from diverse eastern cultures into modern AI ethics curricula. It draws on the rich educational traditions of ancient China, India, Arabia, Persia, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, and Korea, highlighting their emphasis on philosophy, ethics, holistic development, and critical thinking. By examining these historical educational systems, the paper establishes a correlation with modern AI ethics principles, advocating for the inclusion of these ancient teachings in current AI development and education. The proposed integration aims to provide a comprehensive education that not only encompasses foundational knowledge but also advanced learning, thereby equipping future AI professionals with the necessary tools to develop AI systems that are ethically responsible, culturally aware, and aligned with human values such as fairness, safety, transparency, and collaboration. This approach not only addresses the AI alignment problem but also fosters cultural harmony and global understanding, which are crucial in an increasingly interconnected world. The paper posits that the wisdom of ancient educational systems, when harmonized with modern AI ethics, can guide the development of AI technologies that are beneficial for humanity, ensuring these advancements are not just technologically sound but also ethically and culturally informed.

This paper puts forth Central Asian AI ethics principles and proposes a layered strategy tailored for the development of ethical principles in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in Central Asian countries. This approach includes the customization of AI ethics principles to resonate with local nuances, the formulation of national and regional-level AI ethics principles, and the implementation of sector-specific principles. While countering the narrative of ineffectiveness of the AI ethics principles, this paper underscores the importance of stakeholder collaboration, provides a comprehensive framework, and emphasizes the need for responsible AI practices. By adopting this approach, Central Asian region can contribute towards the regional integration and global discourse on AI ethics while promoting the responsible use of AI technology in their respective countries.

Scholars in Central Asia have long started exploring the nexus between law and technology. Contemporary Central Asian legal academia is producing research which stands at the junction of law, philosophy, and technology. Central Asia is comparatively not advanced in technology production and imports most the technologies from neighboring tech giants. These technologies are imported as a package along with the laws and regulations proposed by the technology manufacturing country. It has been observed that these regulations don‘t correlate with the existing local and regional legal systems. To meet these demands, this article proposes a new discipline / branch of legal sciences named as ―Central Asia Tech Law to accommodate the technological progression of the 4th industrial revolution. This branch of law strives to promote globalized legal mechanisms to treat technology as per the demands of the Central Asian region and in line with the international norms and standardization. Another purpose of Central Asia Tech Law is to increase the interaction with regional social and applied scientists to set regional technological standards and preferences for Central Asia.

The legal progression in China is portrayed negatively by western scholars who often argue that the state institutions in China are subordinate to the control of Chinese Communist Party’s leadership which makes these institutions politically insignificant. We consider that the legal progression in China has an instrumental role in achieving “Harmonious Socialist Society.” The purpose of this thesis is to provide an analytical literature review of scholastic work to explain the legality of rule of law in China and to elaborate the outcomes of China’s recent legal developments. This paper has two main subjects. First, it examines the nature of law and rule of law in China through the prism of different legal theories. Secondly, by arguing from different political theories, it explains the necessity of customized legal system in China for establishing a Harmonious Socialist Society. By giving different examples from contemporary China, this thesis argues that the legality of the rule of law in China ought to be understood in the context of China’s economic and social progression rather than the western legal scholarship. China’s economic progress demands a customized legal system. In our thesis, we claim that the regular upgradation of laws and introduction of constitutional amendments in China, should be recognized as important achievement which is required for the institutional innovation. Legal progression in China during last decade perfectly fit into the framework of “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” and is very crucial for building a harmonious socialist society. It is vivid from China’s economic growth and developed international relations. Finally, this paper suggests that the Chinese legal progression can be taken as successful example of legal experimentalism.

The recent progression in AI, nanomedicine and robotics have increased concerns about ethics, policy and law. The increasing complexity and hybrid nature of AI and nanotechnologies impact the functionality of “law in action” which can lead to legal uncertainty and ultimately to a public distrust. There is an immediate need of collaboration between Central Asian biomedical scientists, AI engineers and academic lawyers for the harmonization of AI, nanomedicines and robotics in Central Asian legal system.

This paper is an attempt to provide an adequate theoretical framework to understand the biological basis of human rights. We argue that the skepticism about human rights is increasing especially among the most rational, innovative and productive community of intellectuals belonging to the applied sciences. By using examples of embryonic stem cell research, a clash between applied scientists and legal scientists cum human rights activists has been highlighted. After an extensive literature review, this paper concludes that the advances in applied sciences proven by empirical evidence should not be restricted by normative theories and philosophies of the social sciences. If we agree on these premises that Human Rights are biological, then biology can provide a framework of cooperation for social and applied scientists.

Вступление Кыргызстана в Таможенный союз нанесло серьезный ущерб кыргызскому бренду. Бизнесмены из соседних крупных экономик приобретают продукцию из Кыргызстана и перепродают ее под собственными брендами. Государственная экспортная политика ориентирована на получение экономической прибыли при полном игнорировании вопроса обеспечения безопасности бренда Кыргызстана. Цель данного аналитического документа - предложить идею защиты древних знаний юртового ремесла, персонализировать его с Кыргызстаном и использовать юрту в качестве бренда для всех производимых в Кыргызстане продуктов, особенно для сбыта экспортной качественной сельскохозяйственной продукции. Это предложение требует вмешательства на государственном уровне, которое может гарантировать, что сельскохозяйственная продукция экспортного качества, как фасоль из Таласской области Кыргызстана, должна экспортироваться с использованием юрты в качестве логотипа на ее упаковке, чтобы международный рынок мог признать ее происхождение. Кыргызстан может получить лучшие маркетинговые преимущества, включая продвижение традиционных ремесел и продвижение туристического сектора Кыргызстана, используя только один бренд. Кроме того, в данной статье подчеркивается, что юрта имеет огромный потенциал для включения в герб Кыргызстана. Нынешний государственный герб, используемый в государственных марках, очень похож на гербы соседних стран. В них также изображены птица, горы и солнце. В то время, как юрта может быть с легкостью включена в герб Кыргызстана, чтобы она отличалась от других и использовалась для брендирования продукции из Кыргызстана.

With the advancement of artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics and an ongoing debate between human rights and rule of law, moral philosophers, legal and political scientists are facing difficulties to answer the questions like, “Do humanoid robots have same rights as of humans and if these rights are superior to human rights or not and why?” This paper argues that the sustainability of human rights will be under question because, in near future the scientists (considerably the most rational people) will be the biggest critics of the human rights. Whereas to make artificial intelligence sustainable, it is very important to reconcile it with human rights. Above all, there is a need to find a consensus between human rights and robotics rights in the framework of our established legal systems.

When we talk about Human Rights or Democracy, we see that people are not agreeing on a single definition of these terminologies. Everyone has a different interpretation and their own versions. Very basic values are being exploited in our educational institutions. For example, Beauty is exploited on the name of abstract art. No one is teaching, what is beauty itself? But they have given a standard instead of outlining the parameters of beauty. Beauty is value and abstract art may be a preference or standard of this value. Aesthetically it can be satisfying for some people but it cannot be taken as a standard. In an academic institution, values should be taught and students should be allowed to set their own preferences and standards.