User:Aubree Leonard/automation and ethics

Automation and ethics

The responsibility for making ethical decisions in areas like cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, and AI is shared by manufacturers, programmers, and users.

In cybersecurity, as seen in the CrowdStrike incident, developers and manufacturers are mainly responsible for ensuring their software is secure and reliable. They are in charge of providing updates that fix bugs or improve security. However, users also play a role by making sure those updates are installed properly and that systems are continuously monitored for any issues that may arise.

In the case of autonomous vehicles, decisions made by AI in critical situations are shaped by the rules set by the programmers who design the system. As discussed in The Moral Challenges of Driverless Cars, the responsibility lies with programmers to decide how the AI should act in emergencies. Manufacturers must also ensure that these vehicles are built safely, and they should follow strict safety guidelines to minimize risks. The manufacturers must fully understand the technology to prevent errors or accidents.

Similarly, in AI, as highlighted in Establishing an AI Code of Ethics, developers are responsible for creating ethical algorithms. However, manufacturers and users also share accountability. Manufacturers must ensure AI systems are implemented in a responsible and safe way. Users, on the other hand, need to be mindful of how AI is used and its impact in real-world scenarios. They should be aware of the ethical implications and make sure AI is applied correctly.

In all these cases, ethical responsibility is a collective one, shared between those who design, produce, and use these technologies. Everyone must act with care to ensure these technologies are safe, fair, and responsible.