The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities

by Luciano Floridi

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence has two goals. The first goal is meta-theoretical and is fulfilled by Part One, which comprises the first three an interpretation of the past (Chapter 1), the present (Chapter 2), and the future of AI (Chapter 3). Part One develops the thesis that AI is an unprecedented divorce between agency and intelligence. On this basis, Part Two investigates the consequences of such a divorce, developing the thesis that AI as a new form of agency can be harnessed ethically and unethically. It begins (Chapter 4) by offering a unified perspective on the many principles that have been proposed to frame the ethics of AI. This leads to a discussion (Chapter 5) of the potential risks that may undermine the application of these principles, and then (Chapter 6) an analysis of the relation between ethical principles and legal norms, and a definition of soft ethics as post-compliance ethics. Part Two continues by analysing the ethical challenges caused
by the development and use of AI (Chapter 7), evil uses of AI (Chapter 8), and good practices when applying AI (Chapter 9). The last group of chapters focuses on the design, development, and deployment of AI for Social Good or AI4SG (Chapter 10); the positive and negative impacts of AI on the environment and how it can be a force for good in the fight against climate change-but not without risks and costs, which can and must be avoided or minimised (Chapter 11); and the possibility of using AI in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Chapter 12). The book concludes (Chapter 13) by arguing in favour of a new marriage between the Green of all our habitats and the Blue of all our digital technologies and how this new marriage can support and develop a better society and a healthier biosphere.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Technology, Computer Science

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Luciano Floridi is currently Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute, Governing Body Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, Senior Member of the Faculty of Philosophy, Research Associate and Fellow in Information Policy at the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics.

Floridi is best known for his work on two areas of philosophical research: the philosophy of information and information ethics.

Between 2008 and 2013, he held the Research Chair in philosophy of information and the UNESCO Chair in Information and Computer Ethics at the University of Hertfordshire. He was the founder and director of the IEG, an interdepartmental research group on the philosophy of information at the University of Oxford, and of the GPI, the research Group in Philosophy of Information at the University of Hertfordshire. He was the founder and director of the SWIF, the Italian e-journal of philosophy (1995–2008).

Reviews

[Nestornotabili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non ho dubbi: si tratta di un volume molto acuto e interessante che avrei voluto scrivere io. L’ho consumato da quanto l’ho letto e sono certa che ancora qualcosa mi sfugga.

[Francesco Cavaliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro attualissimo, anche se forse già parzialmente superato a causa della diffusione su larga scala dei modelli di OpenAI, avvenuta subito dopo la pubblicazione del libro e che ha cambiato un po' le prospettive dell'AI.

L'argomento è affrontato in maniera completa, dettagliata ed equilibrata. Ma d'altronde, dal prof. Floridi, non ci si poteva aspettare meno.

La lettura, contrariamente ad altre opere dell'autore, non richiede particolari conoscenze pregresse ed è quindi accessibile a chiunque sia interessato ad approfondire l'argomento.

[Ben Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a light read, nor is it a page-turner; it’s a dense and well-researched text that refers heavily to other works by the author and others, as well as relevant government initiatives, especially those in Europe. The author starts by challenging the popular notion that artificial intelligence is actually intelligent, arguing instead that AI is a form of agency that can carry out tasks that would otherwise require our intelligence. He paints this decoupling of task and intelligence as part of a broader decoupling typical of our digital era (consider how our physical presence is now divorced from our mental presence, as entire groups of people stare at their phones). He goes on to cover the essential topics of the ethics of AI, from biased automation to criminal uses to the impact on climate change and other social issues. I recommend this book, just be prepared to put in the effort.

[Alessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'ho letto per prepararmi ad una docenza sull'IA applicata al contesto della psicologia giuridica. Floridi è un caposaldo dell'etica ed è in grado, con il suo scritto, di trattare in modo semplice ma approfondito un argomento così tanto spesso oggetto di malinterpretazioni.
Consiglio di leggerlo, soprattutto se non si conosce molto dell'argomento e si ha qualche remora relativa all'IA, cosa sia ed il suo utilizzo.

[sus ⊹⟡₊⋆∘ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Floridi io ti odierò per sempre.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno tra i libri più interessanti che abbia mai letto nella mia vita. Penso che farà da timone per il futuro.

[Maria Serafini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interessante la prima parte, poi troppo specifico per filosofi ed esperti in generale, non ha nulla di divulgativo

[Gonzalo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muy completo y accesible. Lo mejor que he leído de filosofía y ética de la IA. Aunque tampoco es que hubiera una bara muy alta, pero lo agradezco. Muy socialdemócrata y con un claro espíritu europeísta regulador. Pero al menos acepta la existencia del coste de oportunidad, que ya es mucho teniendo en cuenta el panorama.