Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Ethics of Autonomous Making Emergency

Question: Discuss about the Ethics of Autonomous Making Emergency. Answer: Introduction The assignment discusses about an autonomous vehicle that is driver less vehicle concept of Uber cars. It has come up with autonomous vehicle with an agreement with Volvo. Before Uber, Google has also introduced its autonomous vehicles. The assignment discusses about driverless cars concept with respect to four classical theories that are utilitarianism theory, deontology theory, virtue theory and contract theory. The theory explains about right and wrong for the morale/ good of a number of people. According to this theory those actions should be done which make people good/ happy. In this morals are separated between good or bad. Good can be understood by a situation which makes people happy or there is no pain. However good can be further divided into qualitative, which is in terms of pleasure and quantitative good which is in terms of well being. According to this theory only those actions should be done which can results in benefit for all (Bourke, 2016). The basic motive of purchasing a car is safety, that is before purchasing or riding in a car safety must be ensure to reduce accidents. It is presumed that when human operated vehicles can cause so many accidents than what about in case of autonomous vehicle. According to John Markoff, reporter of New York times, after conducting a test drive of seven autonomous cars, he said that it is a successful story of autonomous cars, accidents happens because of non stopping the car at red light (Chafkin, 2016). Uber has recruited in 2016 expert managers and robotic experts and a few car mechanics. The goal is to replace more than 1 million human drivers from robotic drivers. To make this effective Uber has come up with joint venture with Otto, and it was mentioned in the agreement that the Ottos current employees would get 20% of the profits of earnings by Uber from autonomous vehicles (Halpern, 2016). There are no worries in the minds of drivers of Uber due to the driverless cars, as according to Travis Kalanick the CEO of Uber; it would be a mix of driver cars and driver less cars. He said that to operate driverless cars they would be requiring more human maintenance than cars. Hence it can be said that driver less cars will not generate unemployment, rather it will create more employment. Whereas in case of general public it has been surveyed that driverless cars cause less accidents as compare to driver cars. As introduction of ATM has not reduced the job opportunities in banks, similarly it can be said that Uber driverless cars follows the utilitarianism theory, as it will generate employment for drivers and more experts and less accidents to general public. Hence good for all has been achieved. Deontology theory It is described as compiling to an obligation or duty based on ethics. According to this theory, there is a relationship between moral and good. The results of actions will only be good if the processes of the actions are according to morale. There are some acts which are morally obligatory but do not result into human welfare. According to this theory those actions should be done which can result into good for you and the people you care about, that is it does not matter that will it is morally good or not (Ackerman, 2016). In consideration of driverless vehicles, less prone accident can be ensured if the vehicle is programmed efficiently that is it ensures the safety of pedestrians as well as the passengers. However 90% of the accidents are caused by the human errors. Uber driverless cars consists fro now the professionally trained engineers who keep an eye if car came across an unexpected situation, every car is equipped with a laptop kept on its back seat which tells that the passengers are sitting in an autonomous vehicle and what is happening on the road side. Hence it can be said that Uber cars complies with deontology theory as it keeps the safety point of view of passengers as well as the pedestrians (Charlton, 2015). Virtue theory This theory emphasizes the role of a character rather than being moral in doing duty or having good consequences. The aim of virtue theory is about the living or being able to live a good life, rather to maximization of utility or goodness. This theory emphasizes on the moral character of the individual rather than his actions or its consequences. It considers the whole of the aspects rather than some of its actions. In case of driverless cars it does not cross the laws programmed in it, as if a pedestrian came across such car it would stop, rather than crossing the other lane; this would save the lives of both the passengers and the pedestrians. But if it is programmed to avoid pedestrians then to save pedestrians, the vehicle may get crashed with the other vehicle coming from the other lane, or with the roadside (Moran, 2016). If such cars came across such situation they are more likely to stop the car as compare to the human being. In case of Volvo autonomous cars they are likely hit the vehicles with good safety record for example hitting bike rider wearing a helmet. But complying to this rule also the good for all that is utilitarian approach cannot be followed (The guardian, 2015). Hence it can be said that virtue theory can only be achieved if the programming done by keeping in mind all the aspects. Contract theory Is a situation or circumstances in which an individual morals and obligations got affected or get changed due to the agreement or contract between them (Castile, 2015). It suggests that how a contract must be formed if the unexpected situation is came across. It comprises of both financial aspect whereas the behavioral aspect. The contract theory must fulfill the employees rights and able to find optimum benefits (Newman, 2014). Hence in case of driverless cars if it is programmed correctly, a plenty of seconds would be sufficient for a computer to take an ethical decision rather as a human being as he may got disturbed if many unexpected situation he came across (Wright, 2016). Conclusion It can be said that as the introduction of ATMs has not impacted in terms of unemployment so much to banks rather it has benefitted in the growth of company as well as the nations economy, similarly driverless vehicles will not lead to unemployment rather it create more opportunities as like Uber has employed experts, and robot managers and engineers. Sometimes the decisions are not clear, that is whether to save a particulars life by keeping the passengers lives in danger. References Ackerman,E,. (2016). IEEE spectrum. People want driverless cars with utilitarian ethics. unless they are a passenger. retrieved by https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/people-want-driverless-cars-with-utilitarian-ethics-unless-theyre-a-passenger Bourke,L,.(2016). The Sydney morning herald. Uber expands its self- driving cars but drivers say they arent worried about being put out of a job. retrieved by https://www.smh.com.au/technology/innovation/uber-expands-its-selfdriving-cars-but-drivers-say-they-arent-worried-about-being-put-out-of-a-job-20161213-gtaiuh.html Castile, M,.(2015). Drivers license. Bloomsbury publishing. USA Chafkin,M. (2016). Bloomberg business week. Ubers first self driving arrives in Pittsburgh this month. retrieved by https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-08-18/uber-s-first-self-driving-fleet-arrives-in-pittsburgh-this-month-is06r7on Charlton, A,.(2015). International business times. You are the pedestrian: ethics of autonomous cars making emergency decisions to save lives. retrieved by https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/you-pedestrian-ethics-autonomous-cars-making-emergency-decisions-save-lives-1506685 Halpern, S. (2016). The New York review of books. Our driverless future. retrieved by https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/11/24/driverless-intelligent-cars-road-ahead/ Moran,S,. (2016). Ethical ripples of creativity and innovation. Springer. London Newman,. (2014). Time. How to make driverless cars behave. retrieved by https://time.com/2837472/driverless-cars-ethics-morality/ The guardian, (2015). The problem with self driving cars: who controls the code? Retrieved by https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/23/the-problem-with-self-driving-cars-who-controls-the-code Wright,L,. (2016). CBC news: technology and science. Driverless vehicles must have sophisticated moral algorithms. Say researchers. retrieved by https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/driverless-vehicles-ethics-1.3648029

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