Can/should AI make ethical choices? While artificial intelligence, or AI, is increasingly being used in modern life, there are a number of advantages as well as disadvantages. It is unnecessary to write this article because the advantages that artificial intelligence (AI) offers — like automation and assistance with “Big Data” analysis — are already well-known. However, there are also a lot of limits that AI is supposed to have. The issue of decision-making with AI involvement and the related ethics is one of the limits that this essay discusses and highlights.
Two methods of reasoning/decision making when it comes to AI In the research paper by Lindebaum, D., Vesa, M. and den Hond, F. (2020) discusses human reasoning and reasoning about decisions with the help of algorithms, two types of reasoning based on on the mentioned algorithm, which can almost be applied in the case of this article, which is “formal rationality” and “substantive rationality”. In essence, making an AI-based decision is a classic example of formal reasoning. Each type of reasoning has its own limitations that make them suboptimal, such as reasoning based on human rational values that are often influenced by personal biases, while reasoning based on norms (e.g., algorithms) often lack practicality and flexibility. Furthermore, the prevalence of AI is making people feel threatened, because it essentially represents an unprecedented source of knowledge and power that is not yet understood by the general public. This causes algorithm-based reasoning or AI to often be said to tend to negatively affect the development of human society.
Reasoning to make ethical choices/decisions The process of considering and validating an option supported by the justification of relevant substantive values is one of the acts of reasoning and rationalizing a thought or idea. Specifically in the case of making ethical decisions, we can clearly see that formal reasoning is “weaker” than substantive reasoning, because the rules (like algorithms) are fixed and without reflection. . When it comes to reasoning to make a decision, it essentially lies in asserting a choice that is justified/rationalized by relevant intrinsic values along with personal ego values. And, that is equivalent to the premise of making an ethical choice. Furthermore, AI basically has no concept of its own existence, let alone the existence of surrounding entities. Again, algorithms or AI cannot be rationally applied to ethical decision making.
Human role However, the stance of this article is not to completely refute or isolate algorithms or AI in human reasoning and (ethical) decision making, because the potential capabilities of AI are not can be denied. For example, algorithm-based formal reasoning or AI can play a supporting role in substantive human reasoning and the “learning” process in life. On the one hand, substantive human reasoning still plays a crucial role; On the other hand, formal reasoning (influenced by algorithms) plays a supporting and developmental role. A more practical approach to this problem lies in strengthening proactive moral education. These methods are said to help people become more proactive in awareness and gain more control over support tools.
In conclusion, ethics of artificial intelligence seem to be quite vague and not discussed much today, but that does not mean it is not urgent. Although AI is increasingly being developed and replicated, humans still play a key role in making decisions in many aspects of society. More importantly, the outcome is determined by how people approach and use AI. The article has given a few “indications” for reference, but continuously learning and experimenting is the duty and right of each person to be able to apply science and technology to life in the most optimal way.
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