The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has endowed society with unprecedented decision-making capabilities while also raising profound ethical challenges. In the context of increasingly autonomous AI systems, balancing fairness, explainability, and accountability has become a frontier issue in technology ethics. Grounded in Kant's moral philosophy, this study introduced the universalization principle and ends-in-themselves principle into AI mechanism design and evaluation. By synthesizing existing scholarship and analyzing typical scenarios, an ethical constraint model was constructed for universalization testing, rights protection, and adaptive feedback. Using public datasets and real-world scenarios, the model was evaluated according to the criteria of fairness, explainability, and risk control. Findings show that internalizing Kantian ethics enhances system autonomy under moral norms and provides a robust pathway for algorithmic governance in complex social contexts. Integrating theory with practice, these innovative technical solutions offer guidance for optimizing future ethical algorithms.
Existing human resources training programs in most e-commerce companies fail to adequately prepare employees to use emerging technologies effectively against the growing sophistication of card-not-present (CNP; a type of fraud in which a stolen credit card or debit card is used for transactions conducted without the physical card) fraud. To fill the gap, this study proposes an artificial intelligence-enabled gamified training framework (AI-GTF; a system combining AI techniques with gamified learning methods to improve user engagement) to enhance the capabilities of e-commerce workforces for CNP fraud detection. A mixed-method research design is applied to achieve the research aim. Questionnaire data collected from 295 e-commerce workforces across Asia were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. As a result, key components of AI-GTF were established to effectively detect CNP fraud in e-commerce. Afterwards, an interview was conducted with 10 e-commerce human resources personnel, ascertaining relevance, usability, and perceived usefulness of the proposed AI-GTF in terms of enhancing the capabilities of e-commerce workforces for CNP fraud detection. This study advances human resources practices that enhance the ability to detect sophisticated CNP fraud activities in timely manner, addressing critical organizational risks in e-commerce.
To address ethical and safety risks including misleading marketing, minor exposure, and algorithmic opacity in artificial intelligence (AI) applications of the tobacco industry, this study proposed a technology-ethics dual-driven safety framework. It adopted a three-layer architecture: (1) a risk perception layer using multimodal sensing and federated learning for real-time detection and privacy preservation; (2) an ethical decision-making layer with a dynamic rule engine, explainable AI, and adversarial training to mitigate algorithmic bias; and (3) an audit traceability layer based on blockchain for immutable whole-process logging and accountability. Validated on the TobaccoComply-21K dataset and real-world industry data, the framework reached 98.7% compliance detection accuracy, a 0.8% weighted false positive rate, and a 95-millisecond audit delay. As the first work integrating federated learning, explainable AI, and blockchain audit into a tobacco-tailored full-chain ethical governance system, it promoted responsible AI application in highly regulated sectors.
Drones offer great potential as intelligent mobility solutions, yet challenges remain to their successful integration in society. This study analyzed experts' perspectives regarding public acceptance of urban drones in the Swiss context, with the aim of improving the understanding of the underlying values affecting acceptance. Trust emerged as the key to public perceptions, and critical to establishing trust is connecting more deeply with the public through integrating trust-building mechanisms, aligning with societal values resonating with the public, and involving a wider range of experts in shaping governance strategies. As conclusion, a responsible innovation framework and more effective implementation approaches can provide additional insights into how to build trust around an accepted set of values that serve the public good. This points towards an important next step-developing a process enabling consensus to be reached and ethical standards to be established.
Drones offer great potential as intelligent mobility solutions, yet challenges remain to their successful integration in society. This study analyzed experts’ perspectives regarding public acceptance of urban drones in the Swiss context, with the aim of improving the understanding of the underlying values affecting acceptance. Trust emerged as the key to public perceptions, and critical to establishing trust is connecting more deeply with the public through integrating trust-building mechanisms, aligning with societal values resonating with the public, and involving a wider range of experts in shaping governance strategies. As conclusion, a responsible innovation framework and more effective implementation approaches can provide additional insights into how to build trust around an accepted set of values that serve the public good. This points towards an important next step – developing a process enabling consensus to be reached and ethical standards to be established.
The three levels of “shallow care,” “deep care,” and “good care” in robotic caregiving largely correspond to the concepts of “supporting parents,” “pleasing parents,” and “respecting parents” in traditional Chinese filial piety ethics, enabling the application of caregiving robots within the context of Chinese filial culture. However, in the practical application of caregiving robots, there are issues such as ambiguity in defining the moral responsibility of the caregiving subject, the illusory nature of the emotional relationship between humans and robots, objectification of the elderly, and challenges faced by traditional Chinese parent-child relationships. Therefore, the role of caregiving robots should be carefully evaluated. They should not be seen as replacements for children but as tools to assist children in fulfilling their filial duties when caring for elderly parents.
Unintended consequences of technology are ubiquitous and often negative. Certain communities, the Amish for example, have minimized these consequences by understanding and agreeing upon the social values they seek to preserve, and by making technology choices based on these values. Although similar strategies are not widely implemented in Western society, technology developers should be intentional and responsible about the impact of their work. Existing design strategies that deal with values (e.g., contextual design) focus on adapting to business culture rather than preserving social values. This article proposes a new process model that focuses on articulating social values during the design phase as a method by which to evaluate the attributes of the system being developed, and discusses a planned experimental design intended to measure the effectiveness of this approach. By considering the relationship between design decisions and social values, this model may result in a design strategy that is both intentional and responsible.
Stephen Weinberg posited in 1977 that as the universe becomes more comprehensible, it appears more meaningless owing to a strict division between facts and values. He seemingly overlooked the consideration of the purposes and values of intelligent life in examining its ability to influence the universe's development. The scientific revolution, initiated by Copernicus's heliocentric hypothesis and furthered by Darwin's theory, shifted humanity's perceived place in the cosmos, removing the sacred. However, developments in astrobiology and discoveries related to the Fermi Paradox and the Rare Earth Hypothesis are hinting at humanity's significant role in the universe, suggesting we might be the only intelligent species. This paper argues that advancing scientific knowledge reinforces the hypothesis of human exclusivity and importance in the cosmos, making the potential sixth mass extinction cosmically significant and underscoring the imperative of human persistence in the cosmos.
Social media platforms have become a threat to democracy and human flourishing. Critics have previously expressed alarm that our ever-increasing technological habits are negatively influencing human values and virtues. This research explores how the engagement design of social media sites is a morally questionable metric for social media ‘success'. Using a virtue ethics framework in relation to technology ethics research, as well as drawing from the work of Ellul (1962) and technology philosophers, this paper emphasizes the need for perspective and civility in engagement and argues for solutions that withdraw from an engagement design built on efficiency and financial gain. Proposed solutions include global change in the form of 1) altered weights for algorithmic prioritization (e.g., promoting diverse topics and reducing tribalist engagement), 2) returning autonomy to users (compared to corporate control), and 3) global legislation (i.e., the European Union's DSA).
Unintended consequences of technology are ubiquitous and often negative. Certain communities, the Amish for example, have minimized these consequences by understanding and agreeing upon the social values they seek to preserve, and by making technology choices based on these values. Although similar strategies are not widely implemented in Western society, technology developers should be intentional and responsible about the impact of their work. Existing design strategies that deal with values (e.g., contextual design) focus on adapting to business culture rather than preserving social values. This article proposes a new process model that focuses on articulating social values during the design phase as a method by which to evaluate the attributes of the system being developed, and discusses a planned experimental design intended to measure the effectiveness of this approach. By considering the relationship between design decisions and social values, this model may result in a design strategy that is both intentional and responsible.
In 2022 the UK government introduced extensive updates to the Highway Code. This includes making specific reference to autonomous vehicles (AVs) on UK roads as a present reality, as well as providing a clear 'hierarchy of road users.' This order of road users is based on the code's understanding of their relative vulnerability and, therefore, their need for protection. In the context of AVs and crash scenarios, the subject of relative value among road users has arisen - often in the form of trolleyology. Considering the new code offers a simple approach to this question, with a clear hierarchy of users, it may be argued that the code goes some way to address the public's concern. This article explores the new code, its approach of using vulnerability to create a hierarchy of road users, and its implications for programming AVs in crash scenarios.
Social media platforms have become a threat to democracy and human flourishing. Critics have previously expressed alarm that our ever-increasing technological habits are negatively influencing human values and virtues. This research explores how the engagement design of social media sites is a morally questionable metric for social media ‘success'. Using a virtue ethics framework in relation to technology ethics research, as well as drawing from the work of Ellul (1962) and technology philosophers, this paper emphasizes the need for perspective and civility in engagement and argues for solutions that withdraw from an engagement design built on efficiency and financial gain. Proposed solutions include global change in the form of 1) altered weights for algorithmic prioritization (e.g., promoting diverse topics and reducing tribalist engagement), 2) returning autonomy to users (compared to corporate control), and 3) global legislation (i.e., the European Union's DSA).
In 2022 the UK government introduced extensive updates to the Highway Code. This includes making specific reference to autonomous vehicles (AVs) on UK roads as a present reality, as well as providing a clear ‘hierarchy of road users.' This order of road users is based on the code's understanding of their relative vulnerability and, therefore, their need for protection. In the context of AVs and crash scenarios, the subject of relative value among road users has arisen – often in the form of trolleyology. Considering the new code offers a simple approach to this question, with a clear hierarchy of users, it may be argued that the code goes some way to address the public's concern. This article explores the new code, its approach of using vulnerability to create a hierarchy of road users, and its implications for programming AVs in crash scenarios.
There are concerns amongst researchers and the general public that social media platforms threaten democratic values. Social media corporations and their engineers have responded to these concerns with various design solutions. Though the objective of designing social media democratically sounds straightforward, the concrete reality is not. The authors discuss what a democratic design for social media platforms could look like by exploring two classical conceptions of democracy, one in the liberal tradition and the other in the deliberative tradition. In particular, they discuss three concerns: 1) mis-and disinformation; 2) hate speech; and 3) the relations between filter bubbles, echo chambers, and public debate. By describing the underlying ideals of the two traditions and translating these into design guidelines, the authors make explicit how varied and contrary the implications of different conceptions of democracy can be for addressing public concerns and designing for democratic social media. With these things in mind, this article responds to a call, which is to raise awareness among social media corporations, engineers, and policymakers about varying democratic ideals and the implications that these may have for social media.
From the perspective of political philosophy, this article examines the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) applications in higher education contain totalitarian elements. Drawing on the theoretical considerations of Hannah Arendt, the author first identifies the key characteristics of total domination and then relates these to two AI applications in the field of higher education: adaptive learning systems and AI-based text generators. On this basis, the article elaborates on the similarities between concrete AI technologies and totalitarian structures. Finally, the author formulates questions that can be used to examine if concrete AI applications exhibit totalitarian traits. The aim of this theoretical contribution is to provide a perspective that will help to identify new dangers of AI or to see already known dangers in a new light, leading to a deeper and broader discourse on the consequences of AI.
There are concerns amongst researchers and the general public that social media platforms threaten democratic values. Social media corporations and their engineers have responded to these concerns with various design solutions. Though the objective of designing social media democratically sounds straightforward, the concrete reality is not. The authors discuss what a democratic design for social media platforms could look like by exploring two classical conceptions of democracy, one in the liberal tradition and the other in the deliberative tradition. In particular, they discuss three concerns: 1) mis- and disinformation; 2) hate speech; and 3) the relations between filter bubbles, echo chambers, and public debate. By describing the underlying ideals of the two traditions and translating these into design guidelines, the authors make explicit how varied and contrary the implications of different conceptions of democracy can be for addressing public concerns and designing for democratic social media. With these things in mind, this article responds to a call, which is to raise awareness among social media corporations, engineers, and policymakers about varying democratic ideals and the implications that these may have for social media.
Despite the prolific introduction of ethical frameworks, empirical research on AI ethics in the public sector is limited. This empirical research investigates how the ethics of AI is translated into practice and the challenges of its implementation by public service organizations. Using the Value Sensitive Design as a framework of inquiry, semi-structured interviews are conducted with eight public service organizations across the Estonian government that have piloted or developed an AI solution for delivering a public service. Results show that the practical application of AI ethical principles is indirectly considered and demonstrated in different ways in the design and development of the AI. However, translation of these principles varies according to the maturity of the AI and the public servant's level of awareness, knowledge, and competences in AI. Data-related challenges persist as public service organizations work on fine-tuning their AI applications.
In this article I examine the structure of four deliberative models: epistemic democracy, epistocracy, dystopic algocracy, and utopian algocracy. Epistocracy and algocracy (which in its two versions is an extremization of epistocracy) represent a challenge to the alleged epistemic superiority of democracy: epistocracy for its emphasis on the role of experts; algocracy for its emphasis on technique as a cognitively and ethically superior tool. In the concluding remarks I will advance the thesis that these challenges can only be answered by emphasizing the value of citizens’ political participation, which can also represent both an increase in their cognitive abilities and a value for public ethics.
In response to the many social impacts of automated mobility, in September 2020 the European Commission published Ethics of Connected and Automated Vehicles, a report in which recommendations on road safety, privacy, fairness, explainability, and responsibility are drawn from a set of eight overarching principles. This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary research where philosophers and engineers joined efforts to operationalize the guidelines advanced in the report. To this aim, we endorse a function-based working approach to support the implementation of values and recommendations into the design of automated vehicle technologies. Based on this, we develop methodological tools to tackle issues related to personal autonomy, explainability, and privacy as domains that most urgently require fine-grained guidance due to the associated ethical risks. Even though each tool still requires further inquiry, we believe that our work might already prove the productivity of the function-based approach and foster its adoption in the CAV scientific community.
As modern life becomes ever more mediated by technology, technology assessment becomes ever more important. Tools that help to anticipate and evaluate social impacts of technological designs are crucial to understanding this relationship. This paper presents an assessment tool called the Fairness Impact Assessment (FIA). For present purposes, fairness refers to conflicts of interest between social groups that result from the configuration of technological designs. In these situations, designs operate in a way such that advantages they provide to one social group impose disadvantages on another. The FIA helps to make clear the nature of these conflicts and possibilities for their resolution. As a broad, qualitative framework, the FIA can be applied more generally than specifically quantitative frameworks currently being explored in the field of machine learning. Though not a formula for solving difficult social issues, the FIA provides a systematic means for the investigation of fairness problems in technology design that are otherwise not always well understood or addressed.
