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Intelligence brings responsibility - Even smart AI assistants are held responsible
Louis Longin1, Bahador Bahrami2, Ophelia Deroy1,3,4
1Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and the Study of Religion, LMU Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Iscience
|August 23, 2023
Summary
People attribute responsibility to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, unlike mechanical tools. AI-powered car warning systems share blame, unlike non-AI systems, influenced by accident outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Human-computer interaction
- Cognitive psychology
- Artificial intelligence ethics
Background:
- Humans often attribute responsibility to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, even when functioning as tools.
- This contrasts with the treatment of non-AI mechanical systems, which are typically not held responsible for outcomes.
- The extent to which AI involvement automatically triggers responsibility attributions requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether purely instrumental AI systems are held responsible.
- To compare responsibility attributions for AI-powered versus non-AI-powered car warning systems.
- To examine the influence of outcome bias on responsibility attributions for AI systems.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design.
- Experimental manipulation of AI involvement in car warning systems (AI-powered vs. non-AI-powered).
- Measurement of human user responsibility ratings for both systems and their outcomes.
Main Results:
- Responsibility was shared when the warning system was AI-powered, but not when it was purely mechanical, despite both being viewed as tools.
- An outcome bias was observed, where the AI system received more credit for success and more blame for failure.
- The AI system's responsibility attributions were influenced by the human user's actions or inactions.
Conclusions:
- The involvement of AI in a system, even as an instrumental tool, leads to shared responsibility.
- Human perception of responsibility for AI systems is susceptible to outcome bias.
- Future research should explore the psychological mechanisms underlying AI responsibility attributions.
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