The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded Professor Yuk Hui, Chair of Human Conditions at the Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil), a Vici grant of 1.5 million euros. Professor Hui will use this prestigious grant to develop a new philosophical and political framework for addressing the planetary challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The project aims to move beyond current "one-size-fits-all" industrial narratives by further developing the concept of ‘Technodiversity’.
A Philosophical Response to Technological Acceleration
The rapid advancement of AI has sparked a global debate that is currently dominated by technical specialists and regulatory frameworks. However, as AI increasingly reshapes the human condition, there is a growing need for a deeper philosophical understanding of its impact. Engineers, policymakers, and citizens are increasingly looking to philosophy for a coherent response to the changes brought about by automation.
Through the project 'Technodiversity: A New Lens on AI', Yuk Hui revisits the philosophical history of AI to examine how it has shaped our ways of thinking and its impact on political economy. He argues that AI does not have to follow a single, standardized path. Instead, he calls for greater technodiversity, an approach that resists homogenization and pluralizes technology to incorporate diverse forms of knowledge and enable local adoption.
"I am absolutely delighted and deeply honoured to receive this Vici grant from the Dutch Research Council. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in my work. This funding provides the time and resources to deepen a philosophical investigation into the history and future of artificial intelligence. Crucially, it will allow me to further develop the concept of 'technodiversity'.
I am incredibly excited to get started, to build a dedicated research team and programme, and to consolidate collaborations within the newly founded Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Technology."
Professor Yuk Hui
The Core of the Research: Technodiversity
The research project is structured around three innovative pillars. First, it reconstructs the epistemological history of AI to understand its origins beyond current technical debates. Second, it formulates a new critique of the political economy of automation, investigating how modern AI differs from the industrial machines of the 19th century.
The project’s most distinctive contribution is the investigation of Technodiversity. Professor Hui suggests that AI should be understood as situated within the history of philosophy, and yet, it must also be reconsidered outside the framework of Western thought. By investigating a multiplicity of cultural and philosophical approaches to technology, the project seeks to open alternative ways of conceptualizing AI beyond deterministic and homogenized industrial narratives. The existence of a plurality of technologies and technological thoughts provides a crucial resource for rethinking technology on a planetary scale.
Driving the Institute for Philosophy and Technology
The NWO Vici grant provides a significant impulse to the recently established Institute for Philosophy and Technology (IPT) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Directed by Professor Hui, the IPT is founded on the premise that philosophy and technology are inseparable. The Institute does not merely interpret technology philosophically; it also seeks a "technological interpretation of philosophy," acknowledging that technological questions have been central to philosophical thought since its inception.
The NWO Vici project will anchor the Institute’s core research themes, particularly those concerning Computation and Automation and Technology and Planetarization. By establishing itself as a global hub for critical reflection, the IPT bridges the gap between engineering, artistic practice, and philosophical inquiry. Read more via our website.
Alignment with Strategy 2030
This project is a clear manifestation of Erasmus University Rotterdam’s Strategy 2030. Professor Hui’s research directly contributes to two of the university's primary impact domains: "The responsible use of technologies" and "A just transition to a sustainable society."
As an "Engaged University," the Erasmus University Rotterdam strives to be globally connected while remaining locally embedded. By promoting technodiversity, prof. Yuk Hui’s project ensures that the digital transition is not only efficient but also inclusive. This alignment reinforces Erasmus School of Philosophy’s role as a place where reflection and action meet to solve complex contemporary challenges through open innovation and strategic alliances.
About Erasmus School of Philosophy
The Erasmus School of Philosophy is a leading research and teaching institution. The faculty enables students and scholars to become critical thinkers and engaged scholars who practice philosophy in multiple societal settings, from ethics and politics to the philosophy of technology and economics.
I would like to thank NWO for their confidence and congratulate Professor Hui on this outstanding achievement. Building on previous research, Professor Hui once again demonstrates how philosophy can contribute to addressing social issues by recognizing both their complexity and diversity. I look forward to the research that Professor Yuk Hui will conduct and the opportunities that will arise from it for young researchers and new collaborations.
Professor Liesbeth Noordegraaf-Eelens, Dean Erasmus School of Philosophy
- More information
For more information, please contact our press officer: Eddie Adelmund, Erasmus School of Philosophy (adelmund@esphil.eur.nl)
