Ethics of AI

Abstract

This entry presents a comprehensive overview of AI ethics, delving into various ethical and social issues arising from AI's expanding role in different facets of private and societal life. It sheds light on critical challenges such as accountability gaps, biases, discrimination, and risks associated with generative AI technologies which are relevant for information flows and the public communication system. The entry then explores the emergence of concepts like Trustworthy AI and Responsible AI as responses to these challenges, underscoring their importance in developing AI systems that minimize risks and maximize societal benefits. Despite the growing optimism around Trustworthy AI, the entry also emphasizes the difficulties in implementing ethical principles within AI systems. This opens the discussion to critical perspectives that, while not mainstream in AI ethics, offer valuable insights into power dynamics inherent in AI technologies. Furthermore, the article addresses the ongoing debate on AI regulation and standardization, framing it as an extension of the initial AI ethics discourse. Lastly, it outlines the relevance of analyzing public and political discourse on AI to scholars and practitioners in the field of political communication.