James July-August 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 67
to catch the fictitious citations, thus
highlighting the dangers of over-reliance on AI. This incident underscores
the need for human oversight and critical evaluation in AI-augmented tasks
to maintain professional standards and
accountability.
THE MORAL IMPERATIVE
The Human Element in AI Ethics
While AI offers immense potential
for societal advancement, its ethical implications underscore the indispensable
role of human morality in AI development and deployment. Unlike machines, humans possess moral agency,
empathy, and the capacity for ethical
reasoning. These are essential attributes for navigating complex ethical
dilemmas. Human involvement in AI
ethics ensures that systems prioritize
human welfare, uphold ethical principles and align with societal values.
By integrating ethical frameworks
and principles into AI development,
humans can guide AI systems toward
morally upright outcomes, prioritizing
human dignity, fairness, and justice.
Human oversight fosters accountability and transparency in AI systems, ensuring that decisions are explainable,
auditable, and accountable. Establishing clear lines of accountability and
transparency in AI development and
deployment enables stakeholders to
understand and scrutinize AI systems’
behaviors, decisions, and impacts,
fostering trust and accountability.
Promoting ethical education and
training in AI development equips
practitioners with the knowledge,
skills, and ethical awareness needed
to develop and deploy AI systems
responsibly. By integrating ethics into
AI education and training programs,
organizations can cultivate a culture
of ethical AI development and deployment, fostering responsible innovation
and societal trust.
There are clear dangers to ethical
negligence in the realm of AI. Failure
to address the ethical dimensions of AI
implementation poses grave dangers
to society, ranging from exacerbating
social inequalities to compromising
individual autonomy and dignity. Without ethical oversight and involvement,
AI systems risk perpetuating biases,
discriminating against marginalized
groups, and infringing on individuals’ rights and freedoms. Moreover,
unchecked AI autonomy may lead to
catastrophic consequences, such as
the misuse of AI-powered weapons,
the spread of malicious AI-driven misinformation, and the erosion of trust in
AI technologies.
While AI offers immense potential
for societal advancement, its ethical
pitfalls demand vigilant human oversight, intervention, and accountability.
By harnessing the human element in
AI ethics, we can navigate the ethical
crossroads of AI implementation, ensuring that technology serves humanity’s best interests while upholding
moral integrity, societal values and the
common good.
Brittany Bennett is an attorney with Bennett Law
& Mediation Services in Warner Robins.
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