AI Ethics Versus Ethics of AI: Reclaiming Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advancement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a computational tool into a system that increasingly shapes human decisions and social life, thereby raising important ethical concerns. Although AI ethics has emerged to guide the responsible development and use of AI systems, insufficient philosophical attention has been given to distinguishing AI ethics from the ethics of AI. This paper develops that distinction by arguing that, AI ethics mainly focuses on practical guidelines and technical principles. While, the ethics of AI, is a broader philosophical inquiry into the moral, social, and human implications of artificial intelligence. Using conceptual analysis, critical hermeneutics, and normative evaluation, the study examines the limitations of current AI ethics frameworks. Particularly, their technical reductionism, linguistic ambiguity, and institutional bias. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language mainly, I argue that ethical concepts such as fairness, accountability, and responsibility depend on social context, and cannot be fully reduced to fixed computational rules. The study also situates the ethics of AI within decolonial discourse. It questions the dominant assumptions fixed in AI systems. The paper contributes to knowledge by defending the importance of philosophy in AI development, AI governance, and AI/computer education. It concludes that philosophy remains necessary for responsible and human-centred AI advancement.