The Ethics of AI: What Happens When Humans Can’t Agree on What is “Right?”
One of the appealing features of artificial intelligence is the ability to come up with the “right” answer automatically, faster and more reliably than humans. In many cases, the right answer is singular and unambiguous, such as 2 + 2 = 4 (3.9 or 4.1 are close, but not right.). But, as is often the case in matters of ethics, what is AI to do if humans cannot agree on the right answer?
This challenge has two important consequences. First, it can delay the introduction or acceptance of new AI applications, such as autonomous vehicles. Second, it will require that management be prepared to explain and justify the rationale for how their AI will make these decisions.
Under the basic principles of Utilitarian ethics, saving thousands of lives even at the cost of a few is obviously the right thing to do—but could you forgive the computer, especially if it was your relative who was killed?
See the full story here: https://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2019/10/17/the-ethics-of-ai-what-happens-when-humans-cant-agree-on-what-is-right/