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Final draft of morality of self driving cars blog post.

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@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ that we are still discussing concerning self driving cars. The protagonist Detec
has an almost unhealthy amount of distrust towards has an almost unhealthy amount of distrust towards
robots. In the movie, a robot decided to save Spooner's life over a 12 year old girl in a car accident. robots. In the movie, a robot decided to save Spooner's life over a 12 year old girl in a car accident.
This ignites the famous ethical debate of the trolley problem, but, now with artificial intelligence. This ignites the famous ethical debate of the trolley problem, but, now with artificial intelligence.
The question boils down to this: are machines capable of making moral decisions. The
surface level answer from the movie is **no** when it presents Spooner's car crash antidote.
The debate boils down to this: are machines capable of making moral decisions. The
surface level answer from the movie is presented as **no** when Spooner's presents car crash antidote.
This question parallels the discussion that we are currently having with self driving cars. This question parallels the discussion that we are currently having with self driving cars.
When a self driving car is presented with two options which result in the loss of life, When a self driving car is presented with two options which result in the loss of life,
what should it choose? what should it choose?
@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ When surveyed, most people say that they would prefer to have self driving cars
approach towards the trolley problem. A utilitarian approach would try to minimize the approach towards the trolley problem. A utilitarian approach would try to minimize the
total amount of harm. MIT made a neat [website](http://moralmachine.mit.edu/) where it presents you with a total amount of harm. MIT made a neat [website](http://moralmachine.mit.edu/) where it presents you with a
bunch of "trolley problems" where you have to decide who dies. At the end of the survey the bunch of "trolley problems" where you have to decide who dies. At the end of the survey the
website presents you with a list of observed preferences you made with the trolley problem.
website presents you with a list of observed preferences you made when deciding who's life was more important to save.
The purpose of the trolley problem is merely to ponder what decision a self driving car The purpose of the trolley problem is merely to ponder what decision a self driving car
should make when **all** of its alternatives are depleted. should make when **all** of its alternatives are depleted.
@ -52,32 +52,32 @@ consequentialism to examine this problem.
![Moral Machine](media/selfDrivingCars/moralMachine6.png) ![Moral Machine](media/selfDrivingCars/moralMachine6.png)
Self driving cars are expected to reduce car accidents by 90% by cutting out human error. If people
Self driving cars are expected to reduce car accidents by 90% by eliminating human error. If people
decide to not use self driving cars due to the utilitarian moral engine, we run the decide to not use self driving cars due to the utilitarian moral engine, we run the
risk of actually loosing more lives. Some people have actually argued that since risk of actually loosing more lives. Some people have actually argued that since
artificial intelligence is incapable of making moral decisions, they should actually take
artificial intelligence is incapable of making moral decisions, they should take
no action at all when there is a situation which will always results in the loss of life. no action at all when there is a situation which will always results in the loss of life.
In the frame of the trolley problem, In the frame of the trolley problem,
it is best for the artificial intelligence to not pull the lever. I will argue that it is best for the artificial intelligence to not pull the lever. I will argue that
it is best for self driving cars to not make ethical it is best for self driving cars to not make ethical
decisions because, it would result in the highest adoption rate of self driving cars which in
the long run would save the most lives. The likelihood that a car is actually presented with
decisions because, it would result in the highest adoption rate of self driving cars. This would end up
saving the most lives in the long run. Plus, the likelihood that a car is actually presented with
a trolley problem is pretty slim. a trolley problem is pretty slim.
The discussion over the moral decisions a car has to make is almost fruitless. It turns out The discussion over the moral decisions a car has to make is almost fruitless. It turns out
that humans are not even good at making moral decisions in emergency situations. When we make rash decisions that humans are not even good at making moral decisions in emergency situations. When we make rash decisions
influenced by anxiety, we are heavily influenced by prejudices and self motives. Despite our own shortcomings when it influenced by anxiety, we are heavily influenced by prejudices and self motives. Despite our own shortcomings when it
comes to decision making, that does not mean that we can not do better with self driving cars. However, comes to decision making, that does not mean that we can not do better with self driving cars. However,
we need to realize that it actually is the mass adoption of self driving cars which will save the most lives, not
the moral engine which we program the cars with. We cannot let the moral engine of the self driving
car get in the way of adoption.
we need to realize that it is the mass adoption of self driving cars which will save the most lives, not
the moral engine which we program the cars with. We can not let the moral engine of the self driving
cars get in the way of adoption.
The conclusion I made parallels Spooner's problem with robots in the movie *I Robot*. Spooner was so mad at the robots for
saving his own life rather than the girl that he never realize that if it was not for the robots, neither of them would
The conclusion that I made parallels Spooner's problem with robots in the movie *I Robot*. Spooner was so mad at the robots for
saving his own life rather than the girl's, he never realized that if it was not for the robots, neither of them would
have survived that car crash. Does that mean we can't do better than not pulling the lever? Well... not exactly. have survived that car crash. Does that mean we can't do better than not pulling the lever? Well... not exactly.
Near the end of the movie a robot was presented with another trolley problem, but, this time he managed to Near the end of the movie a robot was presented with another trolley problem, but, this time he managed to
find a way which saved both parties. Without reading into this movie too deep, this illustrates how the early find a way which saved both parties. Without reading into this movie too deep, this illustrates how the early
adoption of the robots ended up saving tons of lives like Spooners. It is only as the technology fully develops
adoption of artificial intelligence ended up saving tons of lives like Spooners. It is only when the technology fully develops
is when we can start to avoid the trolley problem completely. is when we can start to avoid the trolley problem completely.

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