Tobias Flattery

About Tobias

Tobias Flattery is a former tech professional turned philosophy professor at Wake Forest University, specializing in technology ethics and moral philosophy. He critically examines the moral responsibilities of AI developers, analyzing the societal impacts of deepfakes and the psychological risks of human withdrawal into artificial companionship. Flattery investigates the philosophical boundaries of machine consciousness and robot rights, warning that treating AI entities as sentient beings could fundamentally distort human empathy and legal frameworks. While cautiously utilizing AI to extend his own capabilities, he remains deeply concerned that unchecked reliance on generative tools will degrade students’ critical reading and intellectual development.