Published Paper Details:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how we function as a society and is opening up complex ethical questions that need to be historically explored philosophically. This paper looks at the ethical considerations surrounding AI from a Western and an Indian philosophical position. These investigations have to do with the elements of autonomy, accountability, and moral responsibility. AI systems are taking over decision-making in a variety of important domains (e.g., healthcare, education, policing, warfare). Concerns are raised about algorithmic bias, data privacy, surveillance, and even the diminishing of human agency. Using the normative traditions of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, this study looks at the various ways in which machines can either make moral decisions, or respect the dignity of personhood. Further, ethical relationships from the Indian traditions that have been less internationally discussed like dharma (righteous duty) or karma (moral action) relationships based on their morals can be taken into account when investigating the position of a good or bad dehumanized world. The hope of this paper is that while it can be shown that AI can maximize efficiency and optimize outcomes, it can still be subordinated to humans as normative ethical beings in order to limit dehumanization and loss of ethics towards moral disengagement. This will involve a study of ethical behavior and choices of AI, accountability, and transparency in how algorithmic choices are made, and the implementation of ethical guardrails around the AI process in creating systems that rely on artificial intelligence. The investigation concludes that a cross-cultural, philosophical inquiry is the only way to resolve the human ethical dilemmas that AI presents us with and ultimately serve those hard questions about humanity's relationship with technology's best interests and to serve the human condition over undermining it. This study contributes to the ongoing efforts around the world to develop responsible, ethically grounded AI.