ethics

This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dig into the story around Google engineer Blake Lemoine’s and his belief that the company’s is alive. What does it mean for AI (or anything else) to have consciousness? Do people understand AI, and what other areas of concern should we as a society consider as machines become more sophisticated and human-like? Then, we recap some of the biggest gaming news this week, as well as some wacky gadget announcements. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got…

If only there were tools that could build ethics into artificial intelligence applications.Developers and IT teams are under a lot of pressure to build AI capabilities into their company's touchpoints and decision-making systems. At the same time, there is a growing outcry that the AI being delivered is loaded with bias and built-in violations of privacy rights. In other words, it's fertile lawsuit territory. There may be some very compelling tools and platforms that promise fair and balanced AI, but tools and platforms…

A majority of Axon’s AI Ethics Board resigned in protest yesterday, following an announcement last week that the company planned to equip drones with Tasers and cameras as a way to end mass shootings in schools.The company backed down on its proposal Sunday, but the damage had been done. Axon had first asked the advisory board to consider a pilot program to outfit a select number of police departments with Taser drones last year, and again last month. A majority of the AI Ethics Board, which comprises AI ethics experts,…

AxonTaser maker Axon is walking back plans to make a taser-equipped drone after nine members of its AI Ethics board resigned. Axon, a technology company known for developing tasers and products for police and the military, wanted to market the product as a means of stopping mass shootings. Pushback from the ethics AI Ethics board was swift and forceful. "We all feel the desperate need to do something to address our epidemic of mass shootings. But Axon's proposal to elevate a tech-and-policing response when there are…

Axon’s controversial and short-lived Taser Drone project is powering down… for now.The company’s CEO announced the company is “pausing” the development of the drones following immense backlash from the public, civil liberty groups, privacy advocates, and a majority of the company’s own independent AI ethics board. The pause comes less than four days after Axon officially announced interest in developing the drones.In his blog post, Rick Smith said his, “passion for finding new solutions to stop mass shootings,” led the…

A majority of Axon’s AI Ethics Board resigned in protest yesterday, following an announcement last week that the company planned to equip drones with Tasers and cameras as a way to end mass shootings in schools.The company backed down on its proposal Sunday, but the damage had been done. Axon had first asked the advisory board to consider a pilot program to outfit a select number of police departments with Taser-drones last year, and again last month. A majority of the AI Ethics Board, which comprises AI ethics experts,…

In the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 dead, many are looking to the tech industry to deliver solutions. But at least one company’s proposal raises more questions than answers.Axon, which makes Tasers, body-worn cameras and other technology for law enforcement, announced on Thursday that it plans to mount Tasers on drones, as part of a solution to America’s problem with school shooters.“This network of cameras, with human and AI monitoring, together with panic buttons and other local communication…

OpinionIn recent years, trust and consideration of ethical rules have become an essential part of the AI landscape. Early abuses have led legislators to regulate the industry after the fact. This article discusses the ethical issues of conversational assistants considering these new regulations.Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on UnsplashOn September 28, 2018, the Governor of California approves Chapter 6 ordering that Bots must make it clear that they are just software.On September 7, 2020, the CNIL (Commission Nationale…

Utilitarianism would have us direct our efforts to boost global vaccine coverage. Credit: Shutterstock It's difficult to ask, but how many fatalities should Australia accept from COVID in 2022? …

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Practicing ethics of care in social entrepreneurship has immediate and long-term impacts on sustainability, according to a recent University of Eastern Finland study published in Entrepreneurship & Regional Development. …