Rise of the Robots : Rethinking Ethics, Trust and Responsibility in the Age of Autonomous Machines

Abstract

This article explores and repositions ethics, trust, and responsibility in the age of autonomous machines. It begins by posing new technology-induced ethical dilemmas and suggesting that there are different moral resolution systems. Frankenstein’s monster and Asimov’s Laws of Robotics represent early attempts to come to terms with the ethics of autonomous robots, yet the role of humans and their ability to intervene invite ­ethical considerations about the impact of autonomous machines. The new uncertainties that come with the use of innovative technologies require paying more attention to the responsibility of designers for their creations. The article concludes by identifying different levels of responsibility and proposing a finer balance between trust, safety, and reliability as well as considering the interaction between users, designers, and their creations.