An Inquirer's Guide to Ethics in AI

by Matthew S.W. Silk, Ian J. MacDonald

Overview

Pulling from ethics, computer science, philosophy of science, and history, this book offers a series of investigative tools to enable readers to establish interdisciplinary connections and explore ethical issues involving artificial intelligence. Covering broad themes including democracy and the moral responsibility of scientists, the text also delves into specific topics such as modelling bias, risk assessment, privacy, epistemic concerns, the implementation of AI in medicine, the uses of generative AI for writing and art, and the impact that AI can have on human behaviour. Throughout the book, the application of various ethical theories and conceptual frameworks is modelled for students, helping them to become thoughtful inquirers in the exciting and growing field of artificial intelligence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554816408
Publisher:	Broadview Press
Publication date:	11/22/2024
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.54(d)

About the Author

Matthew S.W. Silk and Ian J. MacDonald are instructors in philosophy at the University of Waterloo.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Chapter 1: Ethical Inquiry
Chapter 2: The Moral Responsibilities of Scientists
Chapter 3: Bias and Machine Learning
Chapter 4: Opacity, Risk, and Error
Chapter 5: Democracy
Chapter 6: AI and Humanity

Works Cited
Index

Editorial Reviews

Centring on ethics as a practice of inquiry, this clear and engaging text provides the tools for asking the important questions of AI ethics while helping to ground those questions in examinations of responsibility in science generally. Rich with both AI examples and relevant historical examples predating the twenty-first century, the book shows how some aspects of AI ethics have been with us since before the AI era began and at the same time clarifies how AI poses particular challenges for ethical decision-making. This is a book both instructors and students will appreciate greatly.” — Heather Douglas, Michigan State University

“Ethical inquiries into the design, implementation, and use of AI technologies have given rise to some of the most pressing questions facing policymakers, developers, and the public alike. Matthew Silk and Ian MacDonald provide readers with a toolbox for assessing and understanding the complex ethical challenges that arise from AI. Their work is an incredibly rich resource for understanding not only how AI is affecting society today but also how to critically think about and engage with the ethics of AI innovation in the future.” — Samantha Bradshaw, American University

From the Publisher