Let's take a look at the trucking industry. It employs millions of people. If self-driving trucks become commonplace in ten years, what will happen?
Autonomous trucks are more ethical since they are less likely to cause accidents. It must understand the data it collects and be trained to make the right decisions under any scenario if it becomes a reality. Imagine a self-driving car whose brakes have failed, and it is speeding towards a pedestrian and a biker (wearing gears). If the vehicle deviates slightly, one may save both. In this case, however, instead of a human driver, the car's algorithm is in charge of making appropriate decisions. If you had to choose between the two, would you save the pedestrian or the biker? Should it even be one or the other?
Ethics play an essential role in technological development when faced with ethical dilemmas. We rely on these systems' developers to make sound decisions, which would be extremely difficult for us to do. This does not imply that we will stop producing automated vehicles, but it does mean that the liabilities will shift from human drivers to AI drivers.
AI After Effects
However, as AI exerts more influence on our lives, we will have to stay on top of ethical AI regulations. With the expansion and evolution of AI, ethics must be an integral part of the discussions around applications that might invade our rights to privacy and protection. In artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias is currently one of the most critical concerns, and it will likely remain that way unless we make more competent technological products. AI poses a threat to certain job categories with increasing automation. This impacts the livelihood of millions of people and increases socioeconomic inequality.
Typically, these tools employ various data types to generate insights. Unintentional consequences can result from poorly designed projects built on incomplete or biased data. We have had several instances where AI systems have gone wrong in the recent past. For example, a facial recognition system failing to recognize a dark-skinned person and failing to unlock a device or a door lock to let the house owner in!!
As algorithmic systems advance, automated decision-making strengthens AI and reduces the involvement of human resources in the decision-making process. So, we end up making decisions based on algorithms. While this improves efficiency, it can be risky, especially if the decision is terrible, as it will harm society. In a way, relying on machines to make decisions will debilitate our decision-making capabilities and may impact us morally. Therefore, while AI systems are empowered to make decisions, they also need to be encoded with ethical standards to benefit everyone.
Moreover, increasing dependence on AI systems impacts the societal level. Technology need not give rise to loneliness and reduce in-person interaction. We might assume that intelligence is not an integral part of our identity until we realize this by externalizing intelligence to machines.
Control the Outcome of AI
While humans have laws that prohibit and regulate actions, we can follow certain ethical measures to control AI results.
Strategy – It is essential to establish policies that list owners and stakeholders for AI missions. Policies should clearly define:
· The type of decisions that you will automate with AI
· Decisions that will need human input
· Accountability for AI errors
· Clear restrictions for AI system development
· Monitoring and auditing algorithms regularly to ensure impartiality
Data - Data is fundamental to building AI algorithms. So, if you want your algorithm to differentiate humans from animals accurately, you need to provide more diverse data.
· Any inaccuracy or unscrupulous decision might occur due to insufficient data. In addition, it is possible that humans unintentionally introduced unethical values by choosing partial data into the system. Hence, we need to ensure that we provide algorithms with complete and correct inputs and data.
Technology – Technical architects must design AI systems that can identify unethical actions. As a result, companies must closely monitor their own AI and screen their stakeholders, suppliers, and partners for malicious use. Hence, the technology must allow humans to adjust data and control the data sources.
As businesses incorporate AI, ethics is critical to preserving a brand's reputation and customer base. This is possible when ethics is at the center of a product's development lifecycle. In sci-fi movies, futuristic weapons that empower human-like machines and cause havoc are acceptable. Perhaps, in reality, AI can assist us in achieving some level of humanity by removing the monotony of daily life. Maybe we should treat AI like a child, instilling the values of fairness, privacy, security, dependability, and equality.