Ethics in AI: Automated Vehicles, Drones, and Industry Codes

This report delves into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of control systems, automated vehicles, and drones, particularly focusing on the ethical guidelines and codes of conduct established by major industry bodies. It addresses the potential ethical issues arising from the increasing use of artificial intelligence in driverless cars and commercial drone delivery, emphasizing the need for guidelines to ensure human safety, address moral dilemmas, and protect privacy. The report compares the codes of ethics of the British Computer Society (BCS), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Australian Computer Society (ACS), highlighting similarities in their emphasis on honesty, integrity, and professionalism, while also noting differences in addressing privacy concerns. The analysis underscores the importance of establishing comprehensive ethical frameworks to navigate the challenges posed by advancements in AI and automation.

Running head: CODE OF ETHICS
Code of ethics
Name of the Student:
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Question a- Evaluation that industry code would give regarding the use of control
systems and automated vehicles.
Ethical guidelines or moral code of conduct for every major industry body possesses
striking similarities. There are minor differences though. In this modern world driverless cars
are doing the rounds. Driverless cars are fully autonomous vehicles. Machine intelligence
runs those cars. Artificial intelligence is on the development phase and there can be ethical
issues on the use automated vehicles (The Conversation, 2018). It has been argued that
because of the advances in the technological field and automation is increased at an
unprecedented pace in cars to make them safer and reduce accidents. There can be software
glitches so it would not be possible to predict if the infusion of technology really makes it
safe. By evaluating the risks, the industry body can provide certain guidelines. The first
guideline would be to ensure human safety. An accident can happen because of human error
or because of software glitches. Human safety should take precedence over property or
animals. The software must have some inbuilt codes which would deter collision but if it is
not possible it should have the capability to cause the least harm to human live. Some
decisions can be morally ambiguous for software to take and in that scenario control must be
totally transferred to the human sitting close to the wheel. There can be dilemma situations
and at this stage, the software would not be capable of solving such tricky situations. The
above line just emphasizes the fact that full autonomy should not be granted to an automated
vehicle. If and only when the technology is fully mature, then only full autonomy would be
possible. One of the growing areas is commercial drone delivery. Ethical concerns are there
in the commercial usage of drone and this must be addressed by all industry bodies. Some
experiments have occurred in New Zealand and Australia about pizza delivery with the help
of drone (Workplace Ethics Advice, 2018). Most of the people at those regions are bit

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skeptical about the drone delivery. Pizza can be delivered to a wrong person or served cold
and these things cannot be there in business ethics. Additionally, this automated drone
delivery also would cause loss of employment for delivery person. This moral issues need to
be jointly addressed by the body. A guideline should also be there regarding violating
personal place or infringing upon privacy. These things must be evaluated and looked under
by the ethics bodies.
Question b: Comparison between codes of ethics.
This portion will mainly provide a brief about the codes presented by three industry
bodies. To get a grip about the structure, there is a need to look into the codes of conduct of at
least one body. Let’s take the example BCS first (British computer society). All these codes
are relevant to the study mentioned in the previous answer. BCS gives some guidelines
regarding professional standards of practice in the Information technology field. Main areas
that are covered by BCS include duty to profession, duty to relevant authority, Professional
competence and integrity and public interest (Cs.uct.ac.za, 2018). IEEE or Institute of
Electrical or Electronics engineers is one of the largest conglomerations of professionals
(Ieee.org, 2018). They are dedicated in providing excellence that would benefit the whole of
humanity. Some of the key areas covered by IEEE will be discussed below. It urges people to
increase technical competence and advises them to undertake a task only when they are
qualified. The next point talks about equal treatment that is a person must not be rejected on
the basis of caste, creed or gender. It also talks about maintaining integrity and honesty.
Australian computer society (ACS) also prescribes similar code for Australian industries. It
outlines the following key points- enhancement of quality of life, primacy of public interest,
competence, honesty, professional development and professionalism
(Teaching.csse.uwa.edu.au, 2018). Based on the above discussion, it can be seen that there

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are striking similarities. Each code mentions about honesty, integrity, professionalism.
Therefore, it can be said that the basic outline of code of conducts prescribed by three
industry bodies revolves around same points.
One difference is noticed is that Australian computer society has mentioned about
privacy but IEEE and BCS’s primary outline fails to mention that. Privacy is important for
everyone. In case of drone usage that was talked about earlier, privacy is a very important
point. A drone has cameras attached to them that help them to navigate and record
incidences. The first point of ACS addresses this concern and advises businesses to keep
public interest at highest level. The other two industry bodies must include privacy concerns
and frame specific policies to protect that.

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References:
Cs.uct.ac.za. (2018). BCS Codes of Conduct and Practice. [online] Available at:
https://www.cs.uct.ac.za/mit_notes/ethics/htmls/ch04s04.html [Accessed 27 Apr. 2018].
Ieee.org. (2018). IEEE Code of Ethics. [online] Available at:
https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html [Accessed 27 Apr. 2018].
Teaching.csse.uwa.edu.au. (2018). ACS Code of Ethics. [online] Available at:
http://teaching.csse.uwa.edu.au/units/CITS3200/ethics/acs-ethics.htm [Accessed 27 Apr.
2018].
The Conversation. (2018). At last! The world's first ethical guidelines for driverless cars.
[online] Available at: http://theconversation.com/at-last-the-worlds-first-ethical-guidelines-
for-driverless-cars-83227 [Accessed 27 Apr. 2018].
Workplace Ethics Advice. (2018). Legal and Ethical Concerns of Commercial Drone Use.
[online] Available at: http://www.workplaceethicsadvice.com/2016/04/legal-and-ethical-
concerns-of-commercial-using-drones.html [Accessed 27 Apr. 2018].