Having a philosophical road map to what is required, might help those with skills to design intelligent machines that will enable and indeed promote human flourishing.
Category: Ethics
Against Modern Indentured Servitude (“I’m Spartacus”)
By Jeremy Pitt on July 12th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The term “modern indentured servitude” did not originate with this workshop, but we hope that this special issue has highlighted many of the different shapes and processes it can take, some more insidious than others. We would like to think that, if each paper could talk, they would get up one after the other and say, “No, I’m Spartacus.” In these dark times, each of us needs the courage to be Spartacus.
The Intelligence Factor: Technology and the Missing Link
By Jeff Robbins on June 20th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
One can see the emergence of ever more efficient forms of intelligence as networked self-similar patterns that are embedded in the universe at its core, driven as they are by the sustained maximization of entropy as a causal force. As a maximizer of future freedom of action, the very existence of gravity can be viewed as a form of embedded, purposeful, goal-directed form of intelligence.
IEEE ISTAS 2021 – Guiding Responsible Neurotechnological Innovation
By Miriam Cunningham on June 15th, 2022 in Conferences, Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Videos
The Special Session “Guiding Responsible Neurotechnological Innovation” took place during IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) 2021 on 28 October 2021…. Read More
BOOK REVIEW: Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States
By Vincent Mosco on May 8th, 2022 in Book Reviews, Communication Technology, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The book documents Limbaugh’s formative role in turning an old technology into an instrument of power that transformed the Republican Party and political discourse in the United States. The talk-radio host proved to be a success as both a propagandist and a ratings builder. Station owners were quick to join his syndicated network and to hire personalities who combined Limbaugh’s smooth delivery, ability to empathize with his audience, biting humor, and relentless attack on all things liberal—real or imagined. Profit mattered but winning the “culture war” counted for as much if not more than Rosenwald cares to consider.
The New York Times Test: An Intersubjective Reconsideration
By Mahdi Kafaee on April 28th, 2022 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
When faced with an ethical problem such as a conflict of interest in which codes of ethics or available ethical problem-solving methods cannot help us decide upon the moral course of action to take. A method claimed to be helpful in such situations is The New York Times Test.
IEEE ETHICS 2021 – Integrating Virtue Ethics into STEM Courses
By Miriam Cunningham on April 22nd, 2022 in Conferences, Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Videos
The “Integrating Virtue Ethics into STEM Courses” session took place during ETHICS 2021 on 31 October 2021. It was moderated by… Read More
IEEE ETHICS 2021 – Author meets the critics – ‘Engineering Ethics, Contemporary and Enduring Debates’ by Deborah Johnson
By Miriam Cunningham on April 22nd, 2022 in Conferences, Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Videos
The “Author Meets the Critics—Engineering Ethics: Contemporary and Enduring Debates by Deborah Johnson” session took place during IEEE ETHICS 2021… Read More
IEEE ETHICS 2021 – Ethical and Responsible Research Program (ER2) at the US National Science Foundation
By Miriam Cunningham on April 22nd, 2022 in Conferences, Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Videos
The “Ethical and Responsible Research Program (ER2) at the US National Science Foundation” session took place during IEEE ETHICS 2021… Read More
IEEE Ethics 2021 – Corporate Social Responsibility and Engineering Education
By Miriam Cunningham on April 22nd, 2022 in Conferences, Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Videos
The “Corporate Social Responsibility and Engineering Education” session took place during IEEE ETHICS 2021 on 28 October 2021. It was… Read More
Preparing to Design Robots for Social Contexts
By Clint Andrews on April 22nd, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Emerging social contexts add new requirements to the knowledge that successful roboticists need. Much of this additional knowledge comes from the social sciences and humanities.
The Currency of the Attentional Economy: The Uses and Abuses of Attention in Our World
By Jordan Schoenherr on March 31st, 2022 in Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
By failing to attend to the source, disinformation can be stored along with information, making it difficult to distinguish the good penny from the bad penny.
Fifty Years of Good Trouble
By Clint Andrews on March 19th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Privacy & Security, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
SSIT members have a history of getting into “good trouble” as they encourage IEEE toward more humanistic stances on ethics, transparency, sustainability, and global equity.
SSIT Board Issues Statement in Support of Ukrainian Refugees
By terribookman on March 9th, 2022 in Ethics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements
At their March 8, 2022, Board of Governors meeting, The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) unanimously passed a motion approving the following statement: “The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology actively supports any IEEE initiative that helps the Ukrainian refugees.”
What to Expect From IEEE 7000: The First Standard for Building Ethical Systems
By S. Spiekermann on February 21st, 2022 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
How can tech organizations of whatever size and industry build more ethical systems? IEEE 7000™ aims to provide organizations with “ethical specs.”
Knowing the Unknowable: Soft Laws and Hard Decisions
By Jeremy Pitt on January 16th, 2022 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
If it were possible to formulate laws involving vague predicates and adjudicate them, what would be the implications of such minimalist formulations for soft laws and even for “hard” laws? The possible implications are threefold: 1) does possibility imply desirability; 2) does possibility imply infallibility; and 3) does possibility imply accountability? The answer advanced here, to all three questions, is “no.”
Growing a Culture of Technological Stewardship
By Jason Lajoie on January 15th, 2022 in Articles, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The negative effects of technological innovations can be foreseen, and more importantly, mitigated through more intentional and skillful engineering. Systematic efforts to address these impacts remain peripheral to the engineering profession. The Canada-based Engineering Change Laboratory has identified a set of behaviors that take a value sensitive approach to the practice and culture of engineering.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution Will Not Bring the Future We Want
By Chris J. Barton on December 10th, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
The promise of 4IR is overblown and its perils are underappreciated. There are compelling reasons to reject—and even actively oppose—the 4IR narrative.
Can Open Source Licenses Help Regulate Lethal Autonomous Weapons?
By Cheng Lin on December 1st, 2021 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ethics, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Lethal autonomous weapon systems have the potential to radically transform warfare. Can open source technology help regulate their development?
Not Another Panic Button: Meaningful Inclusion in Technology Development
By terribookman on November 7th, 2021 in Articles, Communication Technology, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Leading Edge, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Hackathons and other well-intentioned efforts to solve social problems using technology must also include the meaningful participation of affected individuals… Read More