AI ethics and its pitfalls: not living up to its own standards?
Thilo Hagendorff
Abstract
Abstract AI ethics is deemed to be an essential ingredient in the quest for trustworthy AI. Hence, demands for implementing AI ethics and ethicists into AI organizations, especially corporations, are ubiquitous. However, the assumption that AI ethicists have particular epistemological advantages compared to non-ethicists as well as the idea that AI ethics automatically decreases the likelihood of unethical outcomes are both flawed. Therefore, this comment lists risks that either originate from AI ethicists themselves or from the consequences their embedding in AI organizations has. The compilation of risks comprises psychological considerations concerning the cognitive biases of AI ethicists themselves as well as biased reactions to their work, subject-specific and knowledge constraints AI ethicists often succumb to, negative side effects of ethics audits for AI applications, and many more. Ultimately, the aim of this comment is not to diminish or deny the importance of the discipline of AI ethics, but rather to increase its capacities for self-reflection and, ultimately, effectiveness.