1.5.2 Moral and ethical issues

• What are ethics concerned with?

  Values as a community and their impact on different groups in society
• How do morals differ from ethics?

  Morals relate to personal conduct and decisions affecting others
• Why is it important to consider the implications of computers in our lives?

  To understand their moral, ethical, environmental, social, and cultural impacts
• What has been the speculation about computers in the workforce?

  How they will impact the world economy and jobs
• What is one advantage of using computers in businesses?

  They improve efficiency and reduce delivery times
• How have companies like Amazon and Effidence utilized machines?

  To reduce delivery times and speed up manufacturing processes
• What is a consequence of increased computerization in the workforce?

  High levels of structural unemployment
• How might higher consumer demand due to cheaper services affect employment?

  It may create employment in other sections of the business
• What must governments do to mitigate the effects of computerization?

  Invest in retraining programs for displaced workers
• Which jobs have been most affected by computerization?

  Middle-income manufacturing jobs
• What is a major downside of a significantly computerized workplace?

  High dependence on computers leading to loss of output if they fail
• What has increased the demand for computing-related occupations?

  The essential role of computers in the workplace
• What are some examples of services offered exclusively online?

  Online shopping and online banking services
• How has online shopping affected physical retail spaces?

  It has reduced costs of renting physical spaces
• What is a common use of automated decision making?

  Determining what users see on their social media feeds
• What is a potential risk of tailoring social media feeds to users' interests?

  It creates a dangerous bubble that reinforces beliefs
• How have algorithms been used in the criminal justice system?

  To assess a criminal's likelihood of reoffending
• What is a concern regarding algorithmic decision-making in applications?

  It may treat people unfairly by ignoring contextual factors
• What is one benefit of using algorithms in hiring processes?

  They allow companies to hire workers faster
• How do algorithms improve decision-making in driverless cars?

  They make decisions faster than humans can react
• What is essential for algorithms to produce high-quality software?

  They must be thoroughly tested and free of bias
• What ethical question arises from algorithmic decision-making in driverless cars?

  Who should be harmed in a scenario involving a pedestrian or driver?
• What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

  The ability of a computer to replicate human intelligence
• How is AI used in medicine?

  In expert systems to draw connections between illnesses for diagnoses
• What are expert systems also known as?

  Knowledge-based systems
• What do expert systems consist of?

  A knowledge base and an inference engine
• What is a common application of neural networks?

  Pattern detection and financial fraud detection
• How do voice recognition systems utilize AI?

  They increase convenience but raise privacy concerns
• What accountability questions does AI raise?

  Who is responsible when things go wrong?
• What environmental issue arises from the production of technological devices?

  Increased e-waste and its disposal in third world countries
• What is a consequence of increased electricity demand from devices?

  Using up non-renewable fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases
• How does climate change relate to technological consumption?

  Our consumption impacts future generations and biodiversity
• What has been pushed in the UK to counteract environmental effects?

  Renewable energy initiatives
• What are the implications of computers in society?

  • Moral implications
  • Ethical implications
  • Environmental implications
  • Social implications
  • Cultural implications
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of computerization in the workforce?

  Advantages:

  • Improved efficiency
  • Reduced delivery times
  • Lower unit labor costs
  • Reduced strain on workers

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Job losses and structural unemployment
  • High dependence on computers
• What are the roles of algorithms in automated decision-making?

  • Determine social media feed content
  • Assess criminal behavior likelihood
  • Screen job applicants
  • Control driverless car decisions
• What are the key components of artificial intelligence?

  • Replication of human intelligence
  • Use in expert systems for diagnoses
  • Neural networks for pattern detection
  • Voice recognition systems for convenience
• What are the environmental effects of technological devices?

  • Increased e-waste
  • Toxic components contaminating water
  • Higher electricity demand from devices
  • Contribution to global warming
• What toxic materials are found in some computer components?

  Mercury and radioactive isotopes
• Why is e-waste disposal considered immoral?

  Because it is often shipped to third world countries with lower environmental standards