Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Principles

Abstract

People tend to confuse ethical principles with moral principles as these two concepts are quite similar ethical principles refer to the social relations of propriety, whereas moral principles denote the norms and standardizations for human actions. The former emphasizes objective human relations for people in their interactions, while the latter focuses the corresponding objective norms and moral property, the two of which adjust the value system of social relations among the people, including the intrinsic value ideal and the extrinsic codes of conducts. Artificial intelligence is by no means a generally pure technique, but a revolutionary technology that will significantly transform human society and our world, with much room for development and extensive application prospect. Meanwhile, it is also an open and subversive technology, far from being mature, for which no one can predict both the ethical and moral consequences it will incur. In recent years, with rapid development of AI and its application in broader domains, there appear both positive and negative effects with each passing day, especially its successive breakthroughs of biological restraints. Once such powerful AI technology is blended with biotechnology, there will be the greater probability that the integration will surpass human intelligence, which will lead to huge uncertainty and risks. At the same time, confronting this critical emerging technology, we realize an intense contrast between the robust AI development and our deficiencies, including backward concept, unclear policy orientation, shortage of ethical regulations, the tenuous moral ideas and the imperfect laws and regulations. Under such circumstances, we should set foothold in ourselves, conduct an all-round introspection on AI and the application consequences. We should persist in people-first principle, safeguard human dignity, guard against and dissolve the possible risks so as to establish a reasonable, righteous ethical order.