Super-human AI’s Challenge to Professional Ethics

Patric Harting

Date: Thursday the 5th of December

Starting time: 2:55pm (AEDT) *

Abstract:  The boom in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has led to many well-publicised worries, including over job losses, baked in discrimination, its use in crime, a flood of poor-quality content and its misuse in journalism. But despite these concerns AI is here to stay, for the obvious reason that it is useful. GenAI has already reached super-human performance and predictive power in some cognitive domains, such as medical diagnosis. This poses a number of difficult cognitive and ethical challenges, even for conscientious professionals who do their best to uphold the highest ethical standards.

In this paper I will look at one such issue and its implications. The issue arises when a typically reliable generative AI system makes predictions or suggests solutions that go beyond easy human understanding. How should professionals deal with such cases? Is it ethical to apply solutions one does not fully understand? Are there special considerations for time-critical or life-threatening situations? What, if anything, can professionals do to ameliorate their lack of understanding? How should professionals communicate about this issue, including to the public?

Although professionals cannot avoid this issue completely, I argue that they can respond positively and proactively. First, by looking to the virtues of honesty and epistemic humility. Secondly, professionals can benefit from practical training in risk management, epistemology and AI interpretation. Finally, relevant case studies should form an essential part of continuous professional development.

Patric Harting has fifteen years of experience working in the chemical industry as a scientist and project manager. He has led multimillion-dollar innovation projects at SC Johnson Professional and Johnson Matthey. Patric holds a BSc in chemistry from UCL and an MA in philosophy from The Open University. He was recently admitted to the PhD program at Lingnan University and is looking forward to investigating the role of modern AI tools in the advancement of science. Patric recently moved to Hong Kong. Outside of work he enjoys exploring his new home city, reading philosophy, classical music and playing with his cats.