Artificial Intelligence (AI) has incredible advantages for mankind but it also raises ethical dilemmas. Take, for example, the cases where students copy or rewrite research from an AI tool without citation to the source. A study found that 82% of Americans care whether AI is ethical. Let’s take a look at ten ethical concerns regarding AI.
Algorithm Bias
A healthcare risk prediction algorithm failed to flag black patients for high-risk management programs throughout the United States.
An AI algorithm yields results based on input data. If the input is skewed, it will give unfair output. Algorithmic discrimination could occur due to human prejudices or oversight. Lack of diverse data sets, subjective data collection, or multiple interpretations of data are other reasons for input bias. This bias could lead to discriminatory hiring, inaccurate socio-economic profiling, or unequal access to resources.
Privacy Breach
An American technology firm collected photos of Canadians without their consent, violating the country’s privacy laws.
AI poses a substantial risk to people’s rights and freedom. AI providers or users can misuse the data without the permission of subjects and generate illicit revenue. Cybercriminals can also exploit the data to scam people or public and private institutions. Privacy breaches can also expose sensitive or confidential data. It is not surprising that 62% of Americans are worried about how much data about them exists on the internet.
Accountability and Transparency
In an unprecedented instance, lawyers referenced fraudulent cases during a court proceeding. They admitted that they used an AI tool for legal research.
Such examples lead to the question of who should take responsibility for AI disasters. It becomes a major challenge to explain or understand how an AI system reached a particular outcome or decision. AI developers can blame it on data providers. AI users can point fingers at developers. The entire AI ecosystem can cite a lack of regulatory control as the reason for the mishap. Accountability can happen only when there is transparency in the inner workings of AI systems.
Autonomy and Control
Uber’s self-driving car killed a pedestrian in Arizona. Tesla is under a federal investigation probe for its Full Self-Driving technology after it reported four crashes.
AI may blur the lines between autonomy and control. When its design lacks clarity on when autonomy ends and human intervention begins, life-threatening situations can occur. AI should be advanced enough to operate independently. However, at the same time, it should be intelligent enough to detect and warn human oversight.
Security Vulnerability
An American video game publishing company fell victim to an AI-generated phishing campaign launched by hackers. The security breach compromised the company’s sensitive workplace documents and content.
Malicious actors in the web world can manipulate AI to engineer malware, ransomware, and evasion attacks. They use sophisticated AI models and algorithms to break into classified information even in the most secure networks.
Digital Amplification
A shooting incident occurred at a pizza restaurant after a man wanted to self-investigate fake news stories he read on the internet.
Data-driven AI strategies are instrumental for businesses or influencers to amplify the reach of their content or brand. However, it becomes a moral debate when they use AI to swing trends, decisions, and opinions for a particular outcome or direction. Digital amplification can be potent in spreading false or misleading information like wildfire. Political campaigners can use AI for propaganda and manipulative narratives.
Job Displacement
Amazon has deployed the world’s largest fleet of 750,000 AI-powered industrial mobile robots in its workforce.
The job displacement challenge has been at the forefront ever since AI became mainstream across the globe. McKinsey Global Institute publication states that by 2030, AI could automate activities that account for up to 30% of hours currently worked across the United States. Nearly 50% of working Americans believe AI will reduce the number of available jobs in their industry. The adoption of AI automation is changing the landscape of traditional employment, increasing job losses, and causing financial and psychological distress.
Global Disparity
According to the World Economic Forum, AI’s economic and social advantages are primarily geographically concentrated in the Global North. Structural limitation in the Global South is one of the root causes of this disparity. Consequently, it can worsen the global inequality situation.
Disadvantaged countries can witness a rise in income gap and disruption of skill-intensive jobs. Wealthier and technologically advanced nations may exercise their dominance over poorer countries. Human capital from less developed nations may migrate to developed counterparts for better work opportunities. Brain drain will further widen the socio-economic gap between the countries.
Social Isolation
A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that 12% of Americans are concerned that the increased presence of AI in daily life can lead to a lack of human connection and qualities.
The rise in the use of AI systems such as chatbots, voice assistants, and robots is reducing human interactions. Hence, social isolation is emerging as a major ethical consideration regarding AI. While robots are being designed to help people combat loneliness and depression, they can’t replace human touch. AI is also negatively impacting the social and emotional skills of people.
Environmental Impact
Google’s 2024 Environmental Report highlights a 13% rise in greenhouse gas emissions from AI and data center energy consumption. AI will generate 16 million tons of cumulate e-waste by 2030. Research states that training GPT-3 in Microsoft’s U.S. data centers can directly evaporate 700,000 liters of clean freshwater.
The environmental impact of AI can be worse than statistics and studies reveal. Excessive use of water, raw materials, and energy in AI can deteriorate resource scarcity across the globe. Unless the stakeholders set standards and regulations regarding AI use and disposal, this technology is unsustainable for the planet.
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