In this book, the author examines the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence systems as they integrate and replace traditional social structures in new sociocognitive-technological environments. She discusses issues related to the integrity of researchers, technologists, and manufacturers as they design, construct, use, and manage artificially intelligent systems; formalisms for reasoning about moral decisions as part of the behavior of artificial autonomous systems such as agents and robots; and design methodologies for social agents based on societal, moral, and legal values. 

Throughout the book the author discusses related work, conscious of both classical, philosophical treatments of ethical issues and the implications in modern, algorithmic systems, and she combines regular references and footnotes with suggestions for further reading. This short overview is suitable for undergraduate students, in both technical and non-technical courses, and for interested and concerned researchers, practitioners, and citizens.  

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Chapter 3: Ethical Decision-Making

Chapter 4: Taking Responsibility

Chapter 5: Can Al Systems Be Ethical?

Chapter 6: Ensuring Responsible Al in Practice

Chapter 7: Looking Further

About the Author

Virginia Dignum is a Professor in the Dept. of Computing Science of Umeå University, where she leads the Social and Ethical Artificial Intelligence research group. Prior to that she was an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management of Delft University of Technology. She received a PhD in 2004 from Utrecht University, before that she worked for 12 years in consultancy and system development in the areas of expert systems and knowledge management. Her research focuses on the complex interconnections and interdependencies between people, organizations, and technology.

Prof. Dignum is actively involved in international initiatives on policy and strategy guidelines for AI research and applications, she is a member of the European Commission High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, the TU Delft Design for Values Institute, the European forum AI4People, the Responsible Robotics Foundation, the Dutch AI Alliance on AI (ALLAI-NL), and the ADA-AI Foundation. She is also a Fellow of the European Association for Artificial Intelligence Association (EURAI).