The Unethical Practice of Replacing Humans with Robots and AI

The article highlights the unethical practices of organizations that replace humans with robots and artificial intelligence, leading to job loss for individuals. Although technology is not inherently unethical, the intention behind its use is crucial. The contract theory suggests that there are contractual agreements between organizations and society, which should be respected. The article concludes that these practices are a violation of social contracts and have negative consequences for society as a whole.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, Charles Sturt University
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Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
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Introduction
With the vast technological innovations, there is great threat to the humans or the
working individuals. Man made technology is replacing humans from several jobs and
work areas as these continuous updates and innovations are of high potential that can
even work on the place of humans. The biggest threat imposed is from the robotic
technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as several organisations are replacing human
by these robots and have started taking extensive use of the robotic technology and
artificial intelligence for managing the business operations and activities (Pressreader,
2017). From the article, it has also been analyzed that even for the purpose of greeting
there are robots. The article highlights that there is a significant trend that soon there will
be driverless cars and there will be soon robotic availability of smart and cheap robots for
managing maximum of the business function by decreasing the dependency upon the
humans (Latar, 2015). The paper will present the analysis of the case with several
ethical lenses using various ethical theories.
1. Utilitarianism Theory
The first theoretical aspect which can explain the ethicality or un-ethically of the case
highlighted in the article is the Utilitarian Ethical Theory. According to this theory, the
decisions and they actions of the organisations or the individuals must be in relevance with
the approach of offering high level of advantages to the maximum number of masses. But
the use of robotic technology and artificial intelligence has a contradictory perspective as
these activities are primarily undertaken for benefitting few sections of the society. There is
violation of the Utilitarian theory as there is only a limited set of people who are getting
positive outcomes from the use of robots such as the involved organisations, investors, etc.
(Shafer-Landau, 2012). But there are negative impacts upon the human as they are losing
their significance and jobs due to artificial technologies and increasing the rate of
unemployment in the society which is overall hampering the success of the masses and the
governments too (Komlos, 2016). There is also a negative impact upon the environment in
terms of taking sue of high power technologies and positing harmful impact upon the
sustainability of the environment. Secondly the robots and AI will take away the jobs of
thousands of people which will affect them and their livelihood in the most in-depth negative
sense (Veruggio, Operto and Bekey, 2013). Thus, from the overall analysis, such
technological innovations are against the approach and ethical aspect of the Utilitarian
ethical theory.
2. Deontology Theory
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The second theoretical aspect which can explain the ethicality or un-ethically of the case
highlighted in the article is the Deontological theory. According to this theory, it is obligatory
that the organisations at the time of decision making must have a strict follow up of their
responsibilities. It is necessary to remain ethical and concerning in respect with the other
individuals and society while developing any kind of product or service so that those
individuals do not have to suffer consequences as its aftermath. Thus being conscious about
one’s own action is must as per the deontological based ethical theory (Broad, 2014). The
individuals and the organisations following the aspects of deontological theory have a
probability of making more ethical decisions which are beneficial both for the societies and
the individuals. In respect with the article, the use of robots and AI by several organisations
is termed as unethical because of the reason that such technological innovations are
hampering the livelihood of the humans as they are going jobless due to the extended use of
such technologies by the organisations by replacing humans (Ford, 2015). Being aware of
the negative consequences imposed upon the society and the earning source of the
individuals, the organizations are taking use of the technology which is a direct violation of
the ethical aspects of the deontological theory. Thus, it can be analyzed that such activities
are self-centric and are unethical and threatening to the livelihood and the earning of the
individuals (Rotman, 2013).
3. Virtue Theory
The third theoretical aspect which can explain the ethicality or un-ethically of the case
highlighted in the article is the Virtue theory. As per this theory, it is necessary that the
operational and business functions of the organisations must be reliable, true and ethical in
nature. There are few character related inherent aspects of the individuals that explain the
appropriate and correct behavior of the individuals making any decision (LaFollette and
Persson, 2013). In the article, the use of the robotic technology and artificial intelligence is
the key decisions of the higher authorities of the organisations and thus they have complete
involvement in the decision making process of replacing human with robots and stealing
their jobs. The key executive and administrative department has a complete knowledge of
the consequences of such actions but then also instead of taking corrective actions to save
the jobs of the individuals with the use of robots and AI, they are replacing humans and thus
it is an unethical practice of the organizations which deteriorate the aspects of the virtue
theory (Pannu, 2015). Thus, the use of technology is not unethical but the intention and the
replacing of humans as well as taking their jobs is highly unethical which are against the
ethical virtues. To have a successful implementation, it is essential that such actions must
not take place and all the acts of the organisations must be ethically upright (Anderson,
2016).
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4. Contract Theory
The next theoretical aspect which can explain the ethicality or un-ethically of the case
highlighted in the article is the Contract theory. It is a theory which is a combined theoretical
of utilitarian, deontological and virtue theory. As per this theory, there is a social-contract
aspect where there are contractual agreements which are governed by the aspects of virtue
i.e. good behavior and the organisations are required to work as per these agreement or
contract (LaFollette and Persson, 2013). The theory offers a motivation for being moral and
ethical while involving in any kind of operation or activity. In respect with the article, the
decision of taking use of the robots by several organisations is termed as unethical as from
such actions of the organisations there is a social contract of offering a secured and
responsible living to the individuals but as these robots and AI will replace the humans thus,
the social contract will be violated. And thus, from the view point and ethical aspects of the
social-contract theory also the replacing of human by robots resulting in loss of job by the
individuals is against the ethical perspectives (Bostrom and Yudkowsky, 2014).
5. Conclusion
Being ethical and morally upright is the one of the essentials of any business organisation
and its operations. In present scenario, it is extremely required that every business action
must be ethical; if analyzed by the ethical lenses such as by comparing with the ethical
theories of Utilitarianism, deontology, virtue and social contract theory. All these theories
explained the aspects on which the actions or the decisions of the individuals are evaluated
that whether these actions are beneficial for the maximum number of the individuals or not
and what all other impacts are posing upon the society and the environment. Thus, from the
paper and several discussion, it can be concluded that from the technological and
organisational point of view, the use of robots and artificial intelligence is ethical but from the
ethical perspective in context with the human and the societies, it is unethical and before
implementing such practices, the organisations must take initiatives to save the jobs of the
individuals and offer them adequate working opportunities. Thus, after such initiatives there
can be attained ethicality in the business operations.
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References
Anderson, S. L. (2016). Are we ready to replace humans with machines.
Bostrom, N., & Yudkowsky, E. (2014). The ethics of artificial intelligence. The Cambridge
handbook of artificial intelligence, 316-334.
Broad, C. D. (2014). Five types of ethical theory (Vol. 2). Routledge.
Ford, M. (2015). The rise of the robots: Technology and the threat of mass unemployment.
Oneworld Publications.
Komlos, J. (2016). Has Creative Destruction Become More Destructive?. The BE Journal of
Economic Analysis & Policy, 16(4).
LaFollette, H., & Persson, I. (Eds.). (2013). The Blackwell guide to ethical theory. John Wiley
& Sons.
Latar, N. L. (2015). The robot journalist in the age of social physics: the end of human
journalism?. In The New World of Transitioned Media (pp. 65-80). Springer
International Publishing.
Pannu, A. (2015). Artificial intelligence and its application in different areas. Artificial
Intelligence, 4(10).
Pressreader, (2017). What if robots and AI takes our jobs? Retrieved on: 13th September,
2017, Retrieved from:
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/waterloo-region-record/20170422/2817584491
72066
Rotman, D. (2013). How technology is destroying jobs. Technology Review, 16(4), 28-35.
Shafer-Landau, R. (Ed.). (2012). Ethical theory: an anthology (Vol. 13). John Wiley & Sons.
Veruggio, G., Operto, F., & Bekey, G. (2016). Roboethics: Social and ethical implications.
In Springer handbook of robotics (pp. 2135-2160). Springer International Publishing.
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Do not remove the following marking sheet.
Marking Sheet
Criteria Standards
Marks
awarde
d
Classical
Ethical
Theory
(Value
60%)
HD: Demonstrates an excellent ability at applying ethical theories to
the ethical issues. (51-60)
DI: Demonstrates a good ability at applying ethical theories to the
ethical issues. (45-50.4)
CR: Makes a genuine attempt at applying the ethical theories to the
ethical issues. (39-44.4)
PS: The ethical theories do not link well with the ethical issues. (30-
38.4)
FL: The ethical theories are not properly applied to the ethical issues.
(0-29.4)
Writing &
structure
(Value
20%)
HD: Language features and structures are used to convey meaning
effectively, concisely, unambiguously, and in a tone appropriate to the
audience and purpose with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation
errors. (17-20)
DI: Well developed skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Fluent
writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type. Grammar
& spelling accurate. (15-16.8)
CR: Good skills in expression & clear presentation of ideas. Mostly
fluent writing style appropriate to assessment task/document type.
Grammar & spelling contains a few minor errors. (13-14.8)
PS: The text contains frequent errors in spelling, grammar, word
choice, and structure, lacks clarity, and is not concise, but the meaning
is apparent to the reader with some effort. (10-12.8)
FL: Rudimentary skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Not all
material is relevant &/or is presented in a disorganised manner.
Meaning apparent, but writing style not fluent or well organised.
Grammar & spelling contains many errors. (0-9.8)
Conclusion
(Value
10%)
HD: Superior conclusion that ties the results of the analysis together
into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (8.5-10)
DI: Very high standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis
together into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (7.5-
8.4)
CR: High standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis
together into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (6.5-
7.4)
PS: Rudimentary conclusion that provides a convincing argument. (5-
6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) conclusion. (0-4.9)
Referencing
(Value
10%)
HD: Referencing is comprehensive, demonstrates academic integrity,
and conforms exactly to APA style conventions. (8.5-10)
DI: Very good referencing, including reference list and citations. High
quality references. (7.5-8.4)
CR:Good referencing, including reference list and citations. Good
quality references. (6.5-7.4)
PS:Referencing is comprehensive, mostly accurate according to APA
style conventions, and demonstrates academic integrity. Some minor
errors or omissions in style and formatting choices (e.g. italics,
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punctuation, etc) don’t impact on the transparency and traceability of
the source, or demonstration of academic integrity. (5-6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) referencing. Poor quality (or no) references.
(0-4.9)
Total
Marks
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