Iphofen & Kritikos (2019): Regulating AI and Robotics- Ethics by Design

This paper explores the ethical considerations necessary for regulating AI and robotics. It argues that while machines are artificially created, their potential intelligence requires careful assessment due to societal implications. The paper questions whether machines can truly 'think' or 'understand,' emphasizing the need for conscious self-awareness in decision-making.

Autonomous Learning Machines (ALMs) present both benefits and risks. The paper reviews these, considering the potential for ALMs to become moral beings and the ethical issues related to regulatory policies. It suggests that policies may be needed to restrict robots from acquiring their own moral autonomy to prevent unanticipated threats.

Concerns about AI include job displacement and international conflicts, while potential benefits include enhanced pattern recognition and surveillance for improved living standards. The paper also discusses the concept of robotic personhood and the importance of moral guidance for ALMs through algorithms.

Algorithms, although not inherently moral, can contain biases and lack transparency, posing ethical issues. The paper argues that no 'perfect' moral algorithm exists and that machine ethics should be founded on case-based reasoning rather than generic moral principles.

Regarding moral algorithms for machines, the paper references the need for 'artificial moral agents' (AMAs) and the potential dangers of humans abandoning their own moral responsibility to