Technology and Society Perspectives

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What does technological momentum refer to in the context of society and technology?

The ability of society to rapidly change technology to meet its needs.

The steady decline of technological influence over time.

The increasing role of human control in technology's evolution.

A force that allows technology to shape society independently. (correct)

How do critics like Pitt view technological determinism?

They think it accurately reflects human values in decision-making.

They argue it underestimates the role of human intentions. (correct)

They support the idea that technology evolves independently.

They believe technology shapes society without human influence.

In what way can AI systems demonstrate biases in recruitment processes?

By producing decisions solely based on current demographic trends.

By using objective criteria that eliminate human influence.

By randomly selecting candidates regardless of their background.

By learning from historical data that may reflect existing biases. (correct)

What does the term 'discrimination' refer to in the context of AI decision-making?

The negative effects of biased AI decisions on specific groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main goals of Value Sensitive Design (VSD)?

To align designs with specific moral and social principles. Signup and view all the answers

What leads to a decrease in transparency in AI’s decision-making process?

The complexity of the data used to train AI models. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can introduce biases during the design phase of AI systems?

The choice of an unrepresentative training dataset. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of value reflects the actual outcomes that occur during the use of a technological artifact?

Realized values Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential issue when an AI system is trained on biased data?

It can amplify existing societal biases in decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

How do technical investigations contribute to Value Sensitive Design?

They develop new designs integrating specific values. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes embodied values from intended values?

Embodied values have potential for realization based on design. Signup and view all the answers

How can developers introduce bias into an AI’s training process?

By utilizing their own unconscious prejudices during development. Signup and view all the answers

What issue does Value Sensitive Design aim to address regarding technology?

The unconscious embedding of values in design. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about values in design is true?

Values impact emotional responses towards objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical aspect of the design process in Value Sensitive Design?

Balancing competing design values. Signup and view all the answers

How does VSD differ from the idea that technologies are inherently neutral?

VSD argues that technologies can embody chosen values. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of moral patiency in the context of AI?

The ethical responsibilities humans have towards AI Signup and view all the answers

Which type of ethical agent is designed to avoid harmful ethical consequences without explicitly engaging in moral reasoning?

Implicit ethical agents Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for a machine to be considered a full ethical agent?

Consciousness and intentionality Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential advantage of AI in moral reasoning compared to humans?

AI can better manage emotional biases Signup and view all the answers

What type of agency allows artefacts to cause changes in the world in conjunction with human actions?

Causality Signup and view all the answers

Why is it challenging to determine if consciousness is required for moral status in AI?

The concept of consciousness is inherently subjective Signup and view all the answers

What limitation does AI face in moral reasoning related to moral rules?

AI cannot handle conflicting moral rules without discretion Signup and view all the answers

Which type of morality is exemplified by artefacts that are designed with built-in ethical considerations, such as childproof features?

Operational Morality Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of machine ethics, as defined by James Moor?

To develop machines capable of making independent moral judgments Signup and view all the answers

Which approach involves programming machines with explicit ethical rules based on moral theories?

Top-Down Approach Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes functional morality from operational morality in artefacts?

Capacity for assessing ethical challenges Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following philosophical challenges must be addressed when considering moral agency in AI?

The ambiguity surrounding the definition of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Why can artefacts not be considered true moral agents?

They lack autonomy and moral sensitivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates surrogate agency in artefacts?

A thermostat adjusting the temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical theory focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being in decision-making?

Utilitarianism Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of machines utilizing functional morality?

Programming to recognize and act on ethical principles Signup and view all the answers

According to Johnson, why cannot machines be considered true moral agents?

They lack emotions, mental states, and free will. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'intentionality' in the context of AI?

The specific purposes that AIs are designed to serve. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates natural entities from human-made artifacts, according to Johnson?

Natural entities exist independently of human actions. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of socio-technical systems, what role do computer systems play?

They are integral components shaped by human practices. Signup and view all the answers

How should technology be viewed in relation to artifacts?

Technology is part of a broader socio-technical system, while artifacts are specific products. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to differentiate between natural and human-made entities?

It helps in recognizing the effects of human behavior on the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of artifacts according to the discussion?

They are meaningful only within their specific contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What is a misconception regarding AI's influence in our moral landscape?

AI lacks any influence on moral decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key trait that differentiates artificial agents from traditional technical artifacts?

Artificial agents are autonomous and adaptable. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for an artificial agent to 'disembody' values?

The agent acts in ways that do not align with its originally designed values. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to the moral agency of AI?

Inherent emotional intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

Why can adaptability in artificial agents be considered a double-edged sword?

It can lead them to uphold or abandon designed values. Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for a technical norm to support a value according to Van de Poel?

The norm must be intentionally designed to promote that value. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of moral agency in artificial intelligence?

Determining the ethical responsibilities of AI. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a challenge associated with the regulation of AI systems?

The potential for AI to consistently uphold its core values. Signup and view all the answers

How does human value instillation differ from that of artificial agents?

Humans can instill values in others while AI cannot. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Winner's Views on Technology

Pitt argues Winner's perspective implies a conspiracy theory, suggesting a specific power structure is responsible for technology's outcomes.
Winner believes technology choices reflect deliberate decisions that shape society and existing power structures.
Pitt counters that artifacts aren't value-laden, the creators' intentions are.

Technological Determinism

Hard determinism: Technology itself controls society.
Soft determinism: Technology influences but is also influenced by socioeconomic factors.
Kranzberg noted technology frequently viewed as an unstoppable force.

SCOT theory opposes determinism, arguing human choices and social interactions shape technology.
Bijeker and Pinch's theory highlights technology as shaped by social factors.
SCOT focuses on social influence on technology, not vice versa.

Actor-Network Theory (ANT)

Latour's ANT considers human and non-human actors equally influential.
Technology plays a mediating role, distributing responsibility between human and non-human entities.

Technological Momentum

Hughes' theory combines determinism and social control.
Early technology is mostly socially controlled.
Established technology gains inertia, becoming harder to control.

AI and Bias

AI recruitment systems trained on biased historical data can amplify human biases.
Bias can arise from design, the dataset, algorithm structure, or developer biases.
Poor or incomplete training data significantly complicates fairness.
Discrimination can arise from biased decisions disproportionately impacting certain groups.

AI and Politics

AI use, especially facial recognition in authoritarian states, raises political concerns.
DARPA’s FERET program is a historical precursor to current facial recognition technology.
AI technology use for maintaining order can reflect broader political systems.

Value Sensitive Design (VSD)

VSD approaches technology design by integrating values consciously.
Three investigative aspects:
- Empirical investigations understand contexts of users and values impacted.
- Conceptual investigations clarify values, find balance, and operationalize values.
- Technical investigations analyze and develop designs supporting the values.
VSD aims to craft technology embodying moral principles.
Values guide positive or negative attitudes regarding technology and human interactions with it.

Intended, Realized, and Embodied Values

Intended values: Designers' initial intentions for technology.
Realized values: Values embodied when an artifact is actively used.
Embodied values: Values that can potentially be realized in a meaningful context.
Specific conditions for something to embody a value: Design intent and conduciveness to that value.

Artefacts and Values

Values in technology come from several sources:
- Agent values: Personal values of the user.
- Institution values: Values of the organization using the technology.
- Artifact values: Values embedded in the technology itself.
These values can interact in intentional/causal or causal ways.

AI Systems and Moral Agents

AI cannot fulfill traditional moral agency criteria, like freedom, intentions, and consciousness.
AI systems can still be part of our moral landscape, due to intentional design and purposes.
AI systems have intentionality, but not the same as that of humans.
Debate whether AI can be moral agents and how to treat them.

Moral Capacities of AI

What capacities should AI have/possess to be morally accountable?
Ethical consideration for AI's use and interaction with humans.

Artificial Agents (AAs): Norms and Values

Technical norms can be programmed into AI or learned through interaction.
Identifying specific values embodied by AI systems is complex.
Distinction exists between human values and those encoded in AIs.
AIs don't hold personal interests as humans do; they primarily pursue goals set by their creators.

Distinction between artifacts and technology

Artifacts are specific products, having meaning and purpose arising from the surrounding context.
Technology is seen as a part of a larger sociotechnical system.

Approaches to AI Morality

Top-Down: Implementing pre-programmed ethical rules.
Bottom-Up: Developing morality through experience-based learning.
Hybrid: Combining both top-down rules and bottom-up learning.

Challenges in AI Morality

Testing moral decisions.
Anthropocentrism.
Slave ethics (machines always serving human goals).
Defining moral status.

Criticisms of Relational Approaches

It lacks a clear definition of moral status.
It may fall into relativism.
The approach might struggle to address situations lacking substantial human interaction.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between technology and society through various theoretical frameworks. This quiz delves into Winner's views on technological determinism, the social construction of technology, and Actor-Network Theory. Test your understanding of how technology and societal structures influence each other.