UNIT 2 ETHICAL
INITIATIVES IN AI
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) brings with it a new
set of ethical challenges. As AI systems become more sophisticated, it's
crucial to ensure their development and deployment align with human
values and principles.
Global Ethical
Frameworks
The Asilomar AI Principles, developed in 2017, provide a The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation
set of guidelines for responsible AI research and (GDPR) focuses on protecting personal data. It
development. They address concerns about AI safety, emphasizes transparency, accountability, and the right to
fairness, and societal impact. data control.
Ethical Harms and
Concerns
Bias Privacy Job Displacement
AI systems can perpetuate AI's ability to collect and analyze As AI automates tasks, there is
existing societal biases if trained vast amounts of data raises growing concern about job
on biased data. This can lead to privacy concerns. Individuals may displacement. This could lead to
unfair outcomes in areas like loan be vulnerable to data breaches economic inequality and social
approvals, hiring, and criminal and unauthorized use of their unrest.
justice. information.
Healthcare Robots: A Case
Study AI-powered robots are increasingly used in healthcare for
tasks like surgery, diagnosis, and patient care. However,
ethical considerations arise regarding patient autonomy,
privacy, and the potential for misuse.
Questions regarding human-robot interaction are crucial.
How do patients feel about receiving care from a robot?
What are the limitations of robotic assistance? How can we
ensure equitable access to AI healthcare solutions?
Autonomous Vehicles: Navigating
Ethics
Safety Liability
Autonomous vehicles are programmed to Who is responsible when an autonomous
make decisions in complex scenarios. vehicle causes harm? How should liability
Ethical dilemmas arise when accidents be assigned in cases where the AI made
occur and the system must decide who to the decision?
prioritize.
Regulation
Developing legal frameworks for
autonomous vehicles is complex. Clear
regulations are needed to ensure safety,
accountability, and ethical standards are
met.
The Ethical Dimensions of AI in
Warfare
The potential for AI to automate decision-making in warfare
1
raises serious ethical concerns. What are the consequences
of delegating life-or-death decisions to machines?
Should AI systems be programmed to have autonomous
2
killing capabilities? This raises questions about
accountability, human control, and the potential for escalation
of conflicts.
International agreements and regulations are urgently
3
needed to establish ethical standards and prevent an arms
race in autonomous weapons systems.
Real-Time Examples: AI Bias in
ActionIn 2016, Amazon abandoned a recruitment AI system due to inherent bias. The system was trained on historical hiring data, which reflected existing gender
imbalances, leading to biased outcomes.
Facial recognition technologies have been shown to be less accurate for people of color, raising concerns about racial profiling and the potential for misuse in law
enforcement.
These real-world examples underscore the need for rigorous testing, monitoring, and accountability to mitigate bias in AI systems.
Moving Forward: Promoting Responsible
AI
Transparency
1
Accountability
2 Ensure transparency in how AI algorithms work, their data sources, and their
decision-making processes.
Regulation
3
Develop clear regulations and standards to ensure fairness, privacy, and
ethical use of AI.
Education
4 Educate the public and policymakers about the ethical implications of
AI, fostering informed discussions and responsible development.
Healthcare Robots: Case Studies
Healthcare robots have a wide range of applications—from surgical robots assisting with
precision surgeries to robots aiding elderly people with daily activities, or even robots used for
patient rehabilitation and therapy. Below are some common areas covered in case studies
related to healthcare robots:
1.Surgical Robots (e.g., da Vinci Surgical System): These robots help surgeons perform
minimally invasive procedures with greater accuracy. A case study could explore the
effectiveness of surgical robots in reducing recovery time or human error, and the ethical
implications around their usage (e.g., data privacy, reliance on technology, and liability in case of
failure).
2.Robots for Elderly Care (e.g., PARO, the robotic seal): Robots like PARO, designed to
interact with elderly patients, can help reduce loneliness and provide companionship. Ethical
concerns here include questions about the potential for robots to replace human caregivers and
the emotional attachment elderly patients might form with robots.
3.Assistive Robots for Rehabilitation: Robots like exoskeletons or robotic prosthetics can assist
patients with mobility issues. Case studies may examine the benefits of these technologies in
terms of improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs, while raising concerns about
access, inequality, or the dehumanization of care.
4.Robotic Diagnostics (e.g., AI-powered diagnostic systems): AI and robotics are
increasingly being used to assist with diagnosing medical conditions. Case studies can explore
the impact of AI-powered systems in terms of diagnostic accuracy, biases in AI algorithms, and
In the case of using companion robots like PARO in nursing homes for elderly care, how can we balance the emotional benefits
these robots provide with the potential ethical concerns regarding human attachment and the replacement of human caregivers?
Real-time Example: PARO the Robotic Seal in Nursing
Homes
Scenario: In nursing homes, elderly individuals often
experience isolation, loneliness, and cognitive decline.
Companion robots like PARO, which resembles a baby seal,
are introduced to provide comfort and companionship. These
robots interact with the elderly by responding to touch, sounds,
and even displaying emotional reactions, mimicking the
behavior of a real pet.
Emotional Benefits:
•Alleviation of Loneliness: PARO has been shown to improve
the emotional well-being of elderly residents by providing them
with companionship, especially in cases where human
caregivers might not be able to give individual attention all the
time.
•Reduction in Stress: Some studies have shown that PARO
can reduce anxiety and agitation in people with dementia,
providing a calming effect during moments of distress.
•Stimulation and Engagement: The robot can engage the
elderly in interactions, helping to stimulate cognitive functions
through its responses and providing a sense of connection.
Ethical Concerns: While PARO offers significant emotional benefits, there are ethical concerns about its use, especially in
contexts like nursing homes, where the elderly are vulnerable and dependent on caregivers.
1.Human Attachment:
1. Concern: The elderly may form deep emotional attachments to the robot, mistaking it for a living being, which could
cause confusion and emotional distress when they realize it is not a real animal. This emotional dependency might also
lead to feelings of abandonment if the robot malfunctions or is removed.
2. Example: Imagine a resident named Mrs. Smith, who, over time, becomes very attached to PARO. She talks to it
regularly, believes it's her pet, and even prefers its company over other human interactions. If PARO is removed or
replaced with another device, Mrs. Smith might feel a loss, potentially affecting her mental health.
2.Replacement of Human Caregivers:
1. Concern: There is the ethical dilemma of whether using robots like PARO could replace human caregivers, potentially
reducing the need for human empathy, interaction, and care. While robots can provide companionship, they cannot
replace the complex emotional intelligence that human caregivers offer.
2. Example: Nursing homes may start using robots like PARO as an easier, more cost-effective alternative to hiring more
human caregivers. While this could free up caregivers' time for other duties, it could also lead to a decrease in quality of
care, as robots cannot provide the same level of emotional support, physical care, or decision-making as a human
caregiver.
Balancing the Benefits and Ethical Concerns:
1.Complementary Use of Robots:
1. Robots like PARO should be introduced as complementary tools, not substitutes for
human care. They can offer emotional comfort during times when human caregivers
are not available, but their use should be limited and supplemented by human
interaction. For instance, robots can be used during specific hours of the day to
provide companionship while the caregivers focus on other tasks.
2.Clear Boundaries:
1. Nursing homes should clearly communicate to residents and families the role of the
robot, ensuring that residents understand that it is a tool for companionship and not a
replacement for human relationships. This helps avoid emotional confusion when the
robot is no longer available.
3.Emotional Management:
1. Caregivers should be trained to monitor and manage the emotional attachment
between residents and robots. If attachment becomes too strong, it might be
necessary to re-evaluate the use of the robot and provide additional emotional
support, either through counseling or increased human interaction.
4.Hybrid Care Models:
1. Combining technology with traditional caregiving models might be the best solution.
For example, human caregivers could use the robot to support their care efforts while
also offering direct, meaningful human interaction to prevent isolation.
5.Ethical Oversight:
1. Institutions should have an ethical oversight process to continually assess the
effectiveness and risks of robot use, ensuring they are not diminishing the quality of
care but instead enhancing the overall well-being of the residents.
Conclusion:
In practice, balancing the emotional benefits of
companion robots like PARO with the ethical concerns
regarding human attachment and caregiving requires
careful integration. PARO should be part of a broader
care strategy, ensuring it enhances human care without
replacing or overshadowing it. By setting clear
guidelines for its use and ensuring that human
caregivers maintain a central role in residents' lives, the
emotional benefits can be maximized while minimizing
potential ethical risks.
This approach creates a balanced model where
technology and humanity work together to improve
elderly care, without compromising the dignity and
emotional needs of the residents.
