AI Ethics by Mark Coeckelbergh. Mark is Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology at the University of Vienna.
In addition, he is the President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology, member of the High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence for the European Commission, member of the Austrian robotics council.
Mark is also a member of the editorial advisory boards of AI and Sustainable Development, The AI Ethics Journal, Cognitive Systems Research, Science and Engineering Ethics, and Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society.
In addition, Mark brings a wealth of ethics experience to address Artificial intelligence (AI). This book is directed at new audiences to AI, showing how there is a real need to understand the impact of bias surrounding these technologies.
One will certainly appreciate Mark’s academic approach to explaining history’s many attempts to create knowledge in various forms. Indeed, Mark creates a good foundation for AI and it’s downstream technologies including Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and ultimately Trustworthy AI.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the biggest buzzword in the marketplace today. For those pushing AI-based solutions, we are living in the best time for humanity. However, many even within IT, mathmetmatics, and researchers are able to forecast the worst things possible.
Chapter Two: Superintelligence and Transhumanism
I was impressed with Chapter Two, as Mark is addressing Superintelligence and Transhumanism in excellent details.
This may certainly be the most interesting chapter across the book, superintelligence is the idea that machines will surpass human intelligence. In addition, transhumanism is a belief that humans should enhance themselves by means of advanced technologies to transform the human condition.
Should self-driving cars have built-in ethical constraints, and if so, what kind of constraints, and how should they be determined? For example, if a self-driving car gets into a situation where it must choose between driving into a child or into a wall to save the child’s life but potentially killing its passenger, what should it choose?
pg. 19
Ethical limits to AI
Certainly Mark begins by addressing how AI is different today than the past twenty years and where AI is going. This is certainly a much needed book to address ethics across the Artificial intelligence (AI) marketplace, including researchers, and long time leaders in AI.
Besides, I feel many chapters are well written. Mark certainly addresses how history has been searching for intelligence, referring to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Greek writers, and major religions approaches to creating life (Golem) and additional attempts at creating a Prometheus throughout history.
Welcomed book for readers new to AI
In conclusion, AI Ethics is very though provoking. Mark compliments Melanie Mitchell’s excellent book Artificial Intelligence. This should be more widely read as the impact of AI is not only shaping society today, but may fundamentally alter key elements in our future.