Chapter 3: The Ethics of Emerging Technologies

Content Warning: Some information in this chapter refers to suicide and suicidal ideation.

Introduction

As technology advances, we must think about how the technology we employ can impact ourselves, our communities, and our world. One of the ways we consider “impact” is by questioning the ethics of the technologies we explore. With concerns ranging from privacy breaches to automation to other possible challenges, we must always be mindful of the risks and impacts of the technology. More specifically, we need to question how the technology might impact living and non-living things through using the technology or by producing it. Failure to consider the ethical implications of technology can lead us down a path of negative and destructive consequences.

The Context of “Emerging” Technology

In order to begin exploring the ethics of emerging technology, we first must try to understand what is meant by “emerging technology.” Emerging technologies are new, innovative, and are still in development. They are expected to create significant impact. These technologies and their creators employ new concepts, methods, and techniques and cannot be categorized with existing technologies. They are innovative in the sense that they promise new and better solutions to the world’s challenges. They are still in development in that none or a limited number of products or services have been created from them. These technologies are expected to generate significant economic value and activity. They promise to affect or transform one or more social or economic domains such as education, healthcare, transportation, or the retail industry [2].

The notion of “emerging” technology does not necessarily mean that all such advances are new or revolutionary by themselves. Some have already been around for years, or in different forms, for decades (for example, fuel-cell vehicles, artificial intelligence, the digital genome, additive manufacturing methods). However, they are now transitioning to a new phase, becoming more widely used in products and consumer goods. In one way or another, all these technologies are expected to gain more attraction in the coming years.

Emerging technologies have yet to reach their full potential because they are new, innovative, and still in development.

According to Nayef Al-Rodhan, “in the past four decades, technology has fundamentally altered our lives: from the way we work, to how we communicate, to how we fight wars. These technologies have not been without controversy, and many have sparked intense debates, often polarized or embroiled in scientific ambiguities or dishonest demagoguery” [3]. The impact of emerging technologies such as blockchain, 5G, cloud computing, and machine learning has already been staggering. As these technologies continue to be developed and new technologies emerge, it seems that the opportunities are limitless. However, it is important to recognize that technologies are often fraught with issues. Consider privacy concerns and Facebook, or the collection of personal data that can be sold to others with ill intentions. The opportunities and solutions that emerging technologies offer are only one part of the equation. The potential risks and negative consequences are the other.

Ethical Issues of Emerging Technologies

To explore the ethical challenges of emerging technologies, let’s consider an example. New-generation robotics will have more autonomy and the capacity to react without preprogramming, which complicates current ethical questions about robotics. The trust and reliance invested in a robot will have to be greater, bringing robots closer to the point of being equal with humans. Neuromorphic chip technology further illustrates this. It is among the most revolutionary developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and a radical step in computing power.

However, immediate “red flags” (concerns) emerge. Many people believe that building neuromorphic chips would create machines as smart as humans. These technologies, in theory, could be demonstrations of human excellence, yet computers that “think” could be devastating for our species. If the technology becomes more advanced than a human, as some suggest, the robots could keep humanity as pets [3]. Of course, this is an extreme example, but one that begs the question of how we mitigate risks and pre-plan for the ethical issues involved with technologies that are not yet fully developed.

Computers that “think” could attain a stage where they keep humanity as pets.

Medical providers and technology companies, including the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Facebook, are increasingly applying artificial intelligence to the problem of suicide prediction. Machine learning software, which is good at recognizing patterns, can go through health records and online posts for words and behaviours that are linked to suicide. The software can also alert doctors and police of the possible impending attempts. The potential positive impact of this use for technology is enormous — even small increases in software accuracy could save thousands of lives each year.

Facebook is actively using artificial intelligence to analyze signs of suicidal intent. What would happen if this data was being used by those with ill intent?  

Facebook is the largest and most looked-upon company to engage in suicide prediction. After it introduced a live-streaming service in early 2016, dozens of users broadcasted suicide attempts in real-time on the platform. In response, on February 16, 2017, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook was doing experiments with AI-based suicide prediction. Its software analyzes users’ posts for signs of suicidal intent. The word “Goodbye” paired with responses like “Are you OK?” or “Please don’t do this” in response to a live stream, assigns the users a risk score. Cases with high scores are forwarded to Facebook’s community operations team, which reviews them and notifies police. Facebook also helps to pinpoint users’ locations so first responders can find them. Antigone Davis, Facebook’s head of global safety, said that from 2017 to 2018 the company started 3,500 “wellness checks,” contacting police about 10 times per day [4].

While this use of data can create positive social impact, what would happen if this data was being used by those with ill intent? What could happen if that same data fell into the hands of marketers or other third parties? [5]

Ethical Considerations

The risks and benefits of new and developing technologies must be analyzed thoroughly to ensure appropriate and equitable use.

Understanding the nature of these ethical issues is a pre-condition of conducting research and generating innovations responsibly. Some technologies might progress independently of political support. But good authority, examinations of risks, and ethical considerations must always be weighed for society to ensure equity and appropriate use of technologies. Ultimately, how we approach the rules of emerging technologies, and the policies and laws built to guide them, will have significant implications; not only for security and ethics, but for our definition of human dignity and equality of individuals [3].

References

[1] M. Luo, “Computer Code”, [March 23, 2020], Unsplash [online]. Accessed: Nov. 25, 2021.

[2] S. O. Hansson, ed. The Ethics of Technology: Methods and Approaches. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.

[3] N. Al-Rodhan, “The Many Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies, , [March 13, 2015], “Scientific American, https://www.weforum.org/ [Accessed January 01, 2022].

[4] M. Marks, “Suicide Prevention Technology is Revolutionary. It Badly Needs Oversight”, [December 20, 2018],The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com [Accessed January 01, 2022].

[5] J. Hallman, “The ethics of emerging technologies,” [April 9, 2019], Penn State News, https://news.psu.edu/story/568149/2019/04/09/research/ethics-emerging-technologies [Accessed January 1, 2022].

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