AI has increased exponentially over the past few decades, and it is now omnipresent in our lives. From virtual assistants like Siri, to self-driving cars, AI has taken the world by storm with its promise of transforming our experience of the world. Of course, this promise is not without its ethical and social implications.
The discussion of ethical implications of AI first appeared in the mid-20th century with the invention of the Turing Test and the Dartmouth Conference. During this time, AI research centred around rule-based systems and symbolic thinking, before shifting focus in the 1980s to machine learning and subsequently deep learning in the 1990s.
Present day AI includes virtual assistants, self-driving cars, medical diagnostics, financial analysis, and natural language processing. AI has been integrated into many of our daily activities, such as social media, customer service and e-commerce, and with the development of AI cryptocurrencies, the potential of AI’s application seems limitless.
Researchers and decision-makers are striving to ensure the ethical and responsible development and use of AI; so far, there have been efforts to create global frameworks of ethics for AI and in June 2020, a group of 1,000 tech workers called for a pause in the training of the most powerful AI systems, leading the United Nations to adopt the ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of AI’.
Exploring the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence poses no small challenge. The current level of development is at the crossroads of a “black box” technology; an untouchable domain of science that can only be evaluated by will-power and control. With greater progress and application of AI, comes greater accountability and responsibility. Those studying the ethical implications of AI must consider the potential implications of their work, both good and bad.
The potential dangers of using AI are vast and can range from malicious cyber-attacks to jobs being lost to automation. However, AI can also be used in incredibly positive ways, such as mitigating climate change and revolutionizing healthcare. Moreover, AI can be utilized to analyze and develop new and striking art forms, such as ‘organic generative art’, where robotic algorithms are used to create art.
The constant development and application of AI means there is an ever-growing need for ethical guidelines. As AI progresses, and its application increases, researchers and decision-makers need to continue to ensure that artificial intelligence remains ethically and socially responsible. Education on AI and its ethical implications should be extended to all, from the youngest age groups to the most experienced and influential.
Implementing ethical guidelines is essential to ensure AI is used in a morally sound and beneficial way. From Turing Tests to ChatGPT development, the ethical and social implications of AI are as integral to its development as the technology itself. It is up to us to ensure its responsible and ethical use, so that the benefits of AI can be realised without the risk of untoward consequences.
