Ethical Issues in AI

Aim

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• describe concepts, theories and problems in the field of applied ethics and the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI)
• develop a theoretically based reasoning in problem areas related to AI
• formulate theory-based recommendations and assessments of a moral question related to AI in a professional environment

Content

The course deals with ethical issues raised by the development of increasingly sophisticated autonomous systems, including which demands can be placed on this technology and why, the different kinds of agents that artificial systems become, whether these systems can be characterized as moral agents and whether they can be held responsible for their actions, and how the overall responsibility for artificial intelligence (AI) should be handled and why. The course places focus on four main topics of moral relevance for autonomous systems and AI: responsibility for decisions made by artificial agents, bias/discrimination as result of using AI, the importance of participation in the development of AI-systems, and how we can ensure that AI implements human values and not other interests. The course takes up theoretical tools for reflecting on ethical implications of developments within AI, which demands can be placed on this type of technology, and how it can be handled by society.