The ethics of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence gains an increasingly prominent role in our society. It affects us on an individual level. Functioning as a ‘gatekeeper’ for the news that we receive of the world, it manages to seize and shape our world views. And with every click we make, we are sucked further into the confines and limitations of our own world views. Because by thinking to understand our preferences, the algorithm will feed us more of the same. The European Commission therefore called algorithms the greatest threat to our democracy.

But this is not where the influence of algorithms stops. Our government has transferred decisive authority to machines by allowing algorithms to decide whether someone should get social benefits, child support, pensions, et cetera. And moreover, as research has shown, the grounds on which algorithms decide whether to allocate such government support are not clear at all. Even today, our algorithms go beyond our understanding. And yet, various branches of government lean on each other’s computerized decisions. This leads to the conclusion that citizens lack proper legal protection, argues Marlies van Eck in her 2018 promotional research report, “Automated decision chains & legal protection. An inquiry into the practise of automated decision chains regarding financial interest relative to legal protection." (Report written in Dutch).

These are only two examples of artificial intelligence applications that bear an intrinsic need for a more ethical approach. Tech, and particularly intelligent tech, has this turn side that we need to be aware of. It is our duty to not merely engage on the chances that technology offers, but also engage on the challenges that it brings with. In other words: we – especially governments and big organizations – should seek to moderate our futuristic attitude. Such modest futurism takes form in researching both the pros and cons of technological applications.

Now, more than ever, the developments in artificial intelligence ask us to understand the nature of both the development and the developer. What is the essence of the AI? With what goal has it been created? What is the nature of the attached services? Tech companies must be aware of the impact of their creations. The next step is of course the creation of software by software. A frightening step – and something against which we are being warned. The future holds a manifold of opportunities – that demands of us that we transcend simple understandings and look at artificial intelligence for its very real implications. Governments have the ball in their court. But whereas they should take on their task, there is a real fear that they might fumble or fall when faced with major tech corporations.