The Ethics of AI: Can Artificial Intelligence Learn Morality from Us?

Whether we’re aware of it or not, Artificial Intelligence has already made a huge impact in our daily lives. And our future seems to be going towards dealing with the ethics of AI.

In the past, we contented ourselves with dial-up internet and burning music on CDs. Today, we laugh at the sounds of that same modem as we voice instructions to machines to play music. We can automate anything in our homes to do almost anything for us, from scheduling trips to the store or switching on the lights.

Before, we waited on technology to respond. That has significantly changed and now, technology is waiting for us to give out our commands. We may never be fully aware of how Artificial Intelligence has altered our lives, but it already is and it’s not stopping anytime soon.

In the early stages

The golden age of AI has arrived and yet, may are still unaware of its impact. The technology is slowly, but surely nearing a high level of intelligence. It can now anticipate our needs instead of previously waiting for our instructions. The process has gone from being routine to a more profound and abstract system.

AI can learn your everyday habits such as when you take your moring coffee. What it can’t do is learn what you are thinking about while drinking your cuppa joe. Its next step to evolution is predicted to be using Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa. These tools will learn how you start your day and give you your schedule even without prompting them. 

AI is fast developing that it is now switching its gears from doing repetitive tasks to making decisions for us. We are now seeing AI’s powers, but only barely. It is expected that in the next five to ten years, AI will be integrated into every nook and cranny of our lives. 

While this would be a welcome fact, what happens when humans start to teach AI about more complex thoughts and decision-making? We humans have the capacity to make decisions based on our capacity for consciousness. We have empathy and the ability to have a stand on moral issues. 

When we allow AI machines to think for us, will they also have the burden of learning the complex web of our morality?

Which morality are we talking about?

Although it could be possible to teach AI morality, it’s not simply a matter of logic or technology. The moral code and ethics humans have developed throught the centuries of civilization are intricate and complicated. These are dictated by upbringing, culture, and in some extent, religion. 

Centuries past and still, morality continues to be an ambiguous concept with no single approved-upon principles.What’s morally right for some may not necessarily be for others. This may rely on the context and who is making the decisions. 

And so, how do we create a pathway for machines to avoid data bias? When we ourselves try hard to balance our cognitive biases. Evidence has already surfaced that our technologies are flawed the same way we humans are. Reports of discrimination abound when facial recognition systems and other digital assistants were found against women and people of color.

What it means for AI to be moral?

A morally aware AI can be beneficial. Its applications can defy belief. The technology can help with the rehabilitation of criminals, for example. Instead of the overpopulated jail cells, we can rewire the morals of these criminals with a microchip and prevent them from committing crimes. 

Minor applications can make a huge difference. As an example, glucose monitoring systems (iCGM) on wearables can help optimize diets and lifestyle. These will have a long-term impact on society and our overall well-being. 

The ethics of AI can be a complicated subject and it is one that will take time.