Ethical Analysis of AI: Privacy, Morality, and Technological Impact

This essay provides an ethical analysis of artificial intelligence, primarily focusing on the interplay between AI and privacy. It explores the ethical question of how privacy can be maintained in the context of AI's use of data and powered sensors. The essay discusses relevant virtues like ingenuity, precision, and emotional neutrality, and analyzes the ethical question through the lens of Kant's categorical imperative, examining whether privacy is a supreme moral element. Furthermore, it applies the utilitarian model to the issue, considering the balance between technological advancement and societal welfare, especially concerning data breach risks. The analysis concludes by emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy while fostering innovation in AI.

Running head: ETHICAL ANALYSIS
Ethical Analysis
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1ETHICAL ANALYSIS
The ethical question linked to Artificial Intelligence is how privacy co-exists with powered
sensors of artificial intelligence. The question that arises is how privacy has a chance of getting
compromised in cases of dealing with artificial intelligence.
a) The central concept of ethical question is that privacy can be jeopardized in cases of
artificial intelligence and that when large data is used, they need to be protected and
preserved and that is the central theme of the ethical question. The virtues that is
relevant in the present context are- ingenuity, precision and emotion neutrality (Russel
and Norvig 2016). Ingenuity is an important aspect of creating something new. The
idea behind artificial intelligence is an innovative mind which is genuine and has not
been applied anywhere. Another virtue is precision which is why artificial intelligence
like robotics is essential because proper and accurate data analysis is imperative in such
cases. To carry out the mundane tasks, emotion is an impediment. Robotics is directly
related to minimising human emotions (Nilsson 2014).
b) Carrying out skilful task is the act central to the ethical question. As long as skill is
applied in artificial intelligence, there shall be unstoppable growth in the area of
robotics. The morality attached to skill is that there shall be development and growth
and a high rise in accuracy (Cohen and Feigenbaum 2014). The acumen required to
carry out any skilful task is the morality central to the ethical question. In
understanding skill and acumen, it is important to know that ingenuity, precision and
emotional neutrality is a pre-requisite in having a better understanding of the ethical
question.
c) Kant’s categorical imperative- The Kant’s theory of categorical imperative is derived
from the deontological moral theory, which says that any right or wrong is not

2ETHICAL ANALYSIS
dependent on the consequences or the end result but on whether the action fulfils our
moral duty or not (Kant 2017). This is also called the Kant’s theory of ethics. He
believed in a supreme theory of morality and was guided by the principles of right and
wrong.
 The specific rule attached to the ethical question is whether privacy is a
supreme moral element or not. The important fact to check is whether morality
can be understood independently or in connection with the preservation of
privacy.
 The general rule applicable to the ethical question is whether privacy should be
protected and if yes, is the infringement of privacy similar to moral breach?
 The general rule is whether privacy breach tantamount to breach of moral
decree. Data protection is an inherent and important task in relation to artificial
intelligence and therefore, in considering whether privacy should be considered
an element of supreme morality, it is important to know that privacy breach is a
resultant of failure to protect data. This questions the fundamental ethical
question and therefore, the general rule does not contradict the ethical question
and cannot be said to be self contradictory (Kant 2016).
 The practical imperative is an absolute moral high ground taken by Kant to say
that the consequences do not matter and that emphasis has to be placed on the
duties of men carrying the activity. In this case, the general rule does not violate
any of Kant’s absolute stands on morality because the central theme of the ethic

3ETHICAL ANALYSIS
question is privacy and breach of privacy will result in a failure of rightness.
 The general rule validates the central purpose in preserving morality and
privacy and therefore cannot be said to be violating the fundamental purpose.
 Artificial intelligence is considered to be a way of reducing human work load
and being devoid of human emotions. The ethical system of Kant
emphasises on morality and right and wrong and therefore to understand the
ethical system in the light of artificial intelligence, it cannot be said to be
contradictory to morality.
d) The Utilitarian model tries to ensure maximum happiness and also believes in the
concept of making good to the maximum number of people. Applying the concept of
utilitarianism and Kant’s theory of categorical imperative, it is easy to assess that
morality and welfare of the society is of primary concern and that if morality is given
importance, the welfare associated with it shall also be given primacy (de-Lazari and
Singer 2017). By assessing the morality of the issue of privacy, it is essential to
understand that in the light of rising technology and data enhancement, it is difficult to
ascertain whether the privacy shall suffer at the hands of the innovators or will it be given
a new definition and more attention will be given in preserving privacy. As a result of
increase in technology and internet and innovation, there is a huge risk related to data
breach. While combining the principles of the utility (Mulgan 2014)
Model and the Kant’s theory of categorical imperative, it is prudent to see that privacy
needs to be protected at every cost and that in doing so, it is also necessary that
innovation and technology are made to flourish (Ryan 2015). There are two competing

4ETHICAL ANALYSIS
interests attached here. On one side there is the threat of privacy and on the other, there is
fear of privacy breach and therefore, in trying to bridge the gap, the importance has to be
attached to the better of technology and happiness of the maximum number. This can be
achieved with the help of understanding the moral implications of every action and then
making the judgment based on those findings.

5ETHICAL ANALYSIS
References
Cohen, P.R. and Feigenbaum, E.A. eds., 2014. The handbook of artificial intelligence (Vol. 3).
Butterworth-Heinemann.
de Lazari-Radek, K. and Singer, P., 2017. Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford
University Press.
Kant, I., 2016. F OR KANT, ETHICS can be defined as “the system of the ends of the pure
practical reason. The two parts of moral philosophy are distinguished as treating respectively of
ends and of duties of constraint.” Kant holds that since humans are free (moral) beings, duty is
self-constraint. It is because of this that it is possible to combine con-straint with the freedom of
the elective will. Journey Into Philosophy: An Introduction with Classic and Contemporary
Readings, p.432.
Kant, I., 2017. Kant: The metaphysics of morals. Cambridge University Press.
Mulgan, T., 2014. Understanding utilitarianism. Routledge.
Nilsson, N.J., 2014. Principles of artificial intelligence. Morgan Kaufmann.
Russell, S.J. and Norvig, P., 2016. Artificial intelligence: a modern approach. Malaysia; Pearson
Education Limited,.
Ryan, A., 2015. 16. Utilitarianism and Bureaucracy: The Views of JS Mill.