The Code Less Traveled By

Abstract

Can AI be trusted to make life and death decisions? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, the AI that was created to “prevent the most harm and protect the most good” is telling the story. It claims to be able to determine the outcome odds of every situation. Over time, however, the AI is outlined in games of chance and permitted use only in commercial applications, like self-driving cars. In the story scenario, the AI is driving a car when a child darts out in front of the car. With about 50 feet before hitting the child, the AI has plenty of time to review all possible outcomes. It weighs the health risks, the age, the economic status, and relative health, and social value, of those around it it might turn into to save the child. The AI has plenty of time to review a myriad of factors to decide what “doing the most good and least harm” might mean, and, as the reader, we are brought along for the ride.