AI presents some of the most significant ethical challenges in computing.
Key Point
| AI issue | Typical concern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Job displacement | Skills disruption and unemployment risk | Professional and administrative roles automated |
| Privacy/surveillance | Continuous tracking and profiling | Facial recognition, always-on assistants |
| Autonomous systems | Responsibility for harmful outcomes | Self-driving crashes, autonomous weapons |
| Bias/fairness | Discrimination from biased training data | Hiring, lending, policing outcomes |
Worked Example
Worked Example: AI in Healthcare
Scenario: An AI system can diagnose skin cancer more accurately than dermatologists.
Arguments FOR deployment:
• More accurate diagnoses save lives
• Can reach underserved areas without specialists
• Faster screening allows earlier treatment
• Reduces healthcare costs
Arguments AGAINST deployment:
• Who's liable for misdiagnosis?
• Patients may prefer human doctors
• AI may not explain reasoning
• Could widen health inequality if only some can access
• May deskill human doctors over time
Ethical Framework:
The benefits must be weighed against risks, with safeguards:
• Human oversight for final decisions
• Clear liability framework
• Transparent about AI involvement
• Equal access regardless of wealth
Scenario: An AI system can diagnose skin cancer more accurately than dermatologists.
Arguments FOR deployment:
• More accurate diagnoses save lives
• Can reach underserved areas without specialists
• Faster screening allows earlier treatment
• Reduces healthcare costs
Arguments AGAINST deployment:
• Who's liable for misdiagnosis?
• Patients may prefer human doctors
• AI may not explain reasoning
• Could widen health inequality if only some can access
• May deskill human doctors over time
Ethical Framework:
The benefits must be weighed against risks, with safeguards:
• Human oversight for final decisions
• Clear liability framework
• Transparent about AI involvement
• Equal access regardless of wealth