Does AI Have Free Will? One Researcher Thinks So

AI and Free Will: A New Perspective

According to neuroscientist Erik Hoel, artificial intelligence increasingly meets the philosophical criteria associated with free will—namely independence, intelligence, and unpredictability. Hoel argues that since AI systems make decisions that can’t be entirely predicted, they resemble human-like autonomy in surprising ways.

A Moral Compass for Machines

Hoel warns that as AI assumes greater decision-making roles, it urgently needs ethical grounding. He compares AI’s developmental stage to that of human children, urging society to instill values and moral frameworks before machines are fully responsible for their actions. The call is not for panic—but preparation.