Exploring Negativity in AI Ethics: An Institutional Perspective
The landscape of AI ethics is often marked by a focus on potential downsides. This phenomenon can be traced to three key institutional features:
-
Subject-Matter: Unlike other philosophical fields driven by unresolved questions, AI ethics pivots around new technological developments, prompting reflective commentary rather than resolution of existing puzzles.
-
Positive Impact: An unwritten norm discourages the acknowledgment of AI’s benefits. Ethicists are more expected to critique technologies than recognize their positive contributions, creating a bias towards negative narratives.
-
Incentives: The academic system favors publications addressing ethical concerns over positive outcomes. This dynamic pressures AI ethicists to highlight potential harms, further reinforcing the field’s critical stance.
These intertwined factors shape a predominantly negative perception of AI. As AI ethics evolves, understanding these constraints is crucial for fostering balanced discourse.
Join the conversation! Share your insights on how we can shift the narrative of AI ethics today.
