Beyond artificial intelligence ethics : exploring empathetic ethical outcomes for artificial intelligence

Hart Cohen, Linda Aulbach

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

Abstract

This chapter will focus on the area of human emotion as the field of emotional AI or empathic AI is emerging and creating new possibilities—and ethical issues. Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into multiple spheres of everyday life and is quickly proving capable of affecting how we live, work and play in the world—with sometimes severe differences in usage, acceptance, legalities, and ethical practices both between countries and within countries. These discrepancies and ethical debates are only going to become more complex. Intelligence is no longer unique to the human species, therefore challenging the definition of what it means to be human. Our chapter uses three cases studies to illustrate how empathy is germane to intimacy, planetary survival, and recognition. Apart from the need to find the right amount and approach of empathy within AI systems to mitigate detrimental emotional effects on humans, there should also be an approach to bring empathy across all AI technologies, irrespective of having Emotional AI (EAI) as a focal point. In addition, there is reason to believe that adding empathy as an extra layer of ethics into official guidelines is not only necessary but desirable, ensuring that the increase of standardization and generalization in the AI field does not invalidate individuality. A lack of empathy could be considered as unethical in itself, so the ongoing developments in the field of empathy and AI and the link between both is to be welcomed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEthics in Online AI-based Systems: Risks and Opportunities in Current Technological Trends
EditorsSanti Caballé, Joan Casas-Roma, Jordi Conesa
Place of PublicationU.K.
PublisherAcademic Press
Pages279-295
Number of pages31
ISBN (Print)9780443188510
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

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