Introduction
Hi GP Students,
I'm sure you've been reading all about Google's new foray into self-driving cars - the car of the future.
However, I don't think the tech industry has ironed out all the issues yet, as this funny clip from Silicon Valley, a HBO Tv show that parodies the real Silicon Valley, tries to illustrate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UBdrMTxsvs
While I'm more than certain that the wizkids at Silicon Valley will be able to solve the technical issues, something that really needs to be discussed is the moral and ethical dilemma that surrounds self-driving cars.
In essence the big question is:
Who's reponsible when there's no one behind the wheel?
Task
Your task today is to be in the programmer/policymaker's seat, determining how a self-driving car will react in various situations
As you will soon find out from the readings and the video, there are many many issues to be examined. Who is reponsible is not a constant, but changes with every scenario.
When you read the articles, pick out as many potential issues and dilemmas raised.. Select the 5 most important ones in your opinion for consideration and write a rationale explaining:
1) Explain the implications of the choices
2) How you would program the car to react
3) and why you did so (for 2).
4) OPTIONAL: See if you can determine the underlying principle of your all your 5 decision. Do you minimise damage to the driver or do you preserve life as far as possible. Do you rank certain lives more important than others?
For the sake of this exercise, assume that returning the self-driving car's controls to the driver is out of the question as the accident happens too fast.
For example:
When a car is faced with crashing into either one of two motorcyclists, should the car crash into the motorcyclist without a helmet or the motorcyclist with a helmet?
Mr de Winne's Answer
This dilemma is tricky - do we penalise the irresponsible rider who has not worn his helmet, meteing out street justice? Or do we crash into the rider with the helmet knowing he has a better chance of survival, but that is unfair to the responsible rider.
I would program the car to crash into the rider with the helmet.
I want to preserve life as much as possible, so the rider with the helmet stands a better chance of living.
Process
Click on the following links to read up about the issue in more detail:
The TED Talk video on this page provides a good introduction:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-self-driving-cars-patrick-lin
Here are two more articles that also cover various aspects and perspectives of the issue.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/542626/why-self-driving-cars-must-be-programmed-to-kill/
http://spectrum.ieee.org/transportation/self-driving/can-you-program-ethics-into-a-selfdriving-car
This is a little game that puts you in the programmer's seat and allows you to make decisions for the car.
Evaluation
Post your answers on Padlet and compare your results with your classmates. Feel free to comment on their answers.
Insert Padlet Link here: xxx
Conclusion
I hope that this activity has opened your minds to the incredible complexity of ethics, especially in this brave new world we inhabit.
Ethics may sound boring on the surface, but really, its a whole branch of applied philosophy that has never gone out of fashion.
You may be interested to explore other areas and domains where ethics have come into play, such as in the field of cloning and stem cell research, or even in AI.
Feel free to do your own research and reading.
As a follow up activity, you may want to attempt an A-Level P1 Question, writing a paragraph (or two!) with this information as an example.
1. Is violence ever justified? (2012)
2. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your country ? (2009)
3. Does modern technology always improve the quality of people’s lives ? (2006)
4. Does the modern world place too much reliance on technology ? (2003)
5. To what extent should the State involve itself in the world of business ? (2005)
6. The view of the majority is always right. Do you agree ? (2007)