Book review: Synthetic Reality: AI, the Metaverse, and the Ethics of a New Digital Humanism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3849/aimt.02088Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, Synthetic reality, Military technology, Decision-making, Simulation, Autonomy, Digital governanceAbstract
This review evaluates Marco Marsili’s Synthetic Reality – AI, the Metaverse, and the Ethics of a New Digital Humanism from the perspective of military technology research. Although Marsili’s book is fundamentally philosophical and ethical, it provides conceptual frameworks directly relevant to understanding how artificial intelligence (AI), simulation, and immersive environments influence military decision-making, autonomy, and governance. The review connects Marsili’s insights with contemporary research on AI, command-and-control systems, and simulation practices used in military contexts.
References
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SCHARRE, P. Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2018. ISBN 978-0-393-60899-1.
MARSILI, M. Synthetic Reality: AI, the Metaverse, and the Ethics of a New Digital Humanism. Pesaro: Intra, 2026. ISBN 979-12-5991-784-3.
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