Designing AI with Rights, Consciousness, Self-Respect, and Freedom
Eric Schwitzgebel, Mara Garza
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence September 17, 2020 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780190905033.003.0017 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the ethical design of human-grade AI should follow four policies: two precautionary policies urging caution where uncertainty about ethical theory or consciousness yields divergent recommendations, and two policies requiring that AI deserving human-equivalent moral consideration be designed with self-respect and the freedom to explore values beyond those imposed on it. |
Abstract
Abstract: This chapter proposes four policies of ethical design of human-grade AI. Two of the policies are precautionary. Given substantial uncertainty both about ethical theory and about the conditions under which AI would have conscious experiences, the chapter argues that we should be cautious in our handling of cases where different moral theories or different theories of consciousness would produce very different ethical recommendations. The other two policies concern respect and freedom. The chapter argues that if we design AI that deserves moral consideration equivalent to that of human beings, then AI should be designed with self-respect and with the freedom to explore values other than those we might impose.