Delegating Responsibilities to Intelligent Autonomous Systems: Challenges and Benefits

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges and benefits of delegating responsibilities to autonomous AI systems, proposing a functionalist framework for distributed moral responsibility in socio-technical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a functionalist perspective on responsibility delegation, emphasizing distributed responsibility among humans and AI, and presents an example of AI ethical by design using Deontic Higher-Order Logic.

Findings

Distributed responsibility can be effectively modeled in socio-technical systems.

AI can act as moral agents by learning and applying ethical guidelines.

The functionalist approach aids in managing ethical complexities of autonomous AI.

Abstract

As AI systems increasingly operate with autonomy and adaptability, the traditional boundaries of moral responsibility in techno-social systems are being challenged. This paper explores the evolving discourse on the delegation of responsibilities to intelligent autonomous agents and the ethical implications of such practices. Synthesizing recent developments in AI ethics, including concepts of distributed responsibility and ethical AI by design, the paper proposes a functionalist perspective as a framework. This perspective views moral responsibility not as an individual trait but as a role within a socio-technical system, distributed among human and artificial agents. As an example of 'AI ethical by design,' we present Basti and Vitiello's implementation. They suggest that AI can act as artificial moral agents by learning ethical guidelines and using Deontic Higher-Order Logic to assess decisions ethically. Motivated by the possible speed and scale beyond human supervision and ethical implications, the paper argues for 'AI ethical by design', while acknowledging the distributed, shared, and dynamic nature of responsibility. This functionalist approach offers a practical framework for navigating the complexities of AI ethics in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.