Artificial Intelligence
The Modern Frankenstein
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What are the major ethical concerns with
AI?
Privacy and Surveillance
Existential Threat to
Humanity
Bias and Discrimination
AI Rights and Regulation
Privacy and Surveillance
● AI systems require vast
amounts o personal data.
● This data could potentially be
accessed by hackers leadin
to identity the t and black mail
● As AI becomes more advanced,
the AI itsel may even utilize
these extensive databases to
at our expense.
Surveillance in Frankenstein
● “Every conversation o the
cotta ers now opened up new
wonders to me…the stran e system
o human society was explained to
me.” (Pa e 122)
● “I was shutout rom intercourse with
them, except throu h means which I
obtained by stealth, when I was
unseen and unknown” (P . 123).
● “I looked upon them as superior
bein s, who would be the arbiters o
my uture destiny” (P . 117).
Bias and Discrimination
● AI systems learn by example. It
will adopt the biases in the data
which they are trained on.
● AI can perpetuate social
inequality; or instance, when
used to screen job applications
● Amazon discrimination a ainst
women.
Bias in Frankenstein
● “She instructed her… to aspire
to hi her powers o intellect
and an independence o spirit
orbidden to the emale
ollowers o Mahomet… her
lessons were indelibly
impressed on the mind o
Safie, who sickened at the
prospect o a ain returnin to
Asia” (127).
● “The cotta e o my protectors
had been the only school in
which I had studied human
nature” (131).
Existential Threat to Humanity
● Fabricatin incriminatin
evidence (deep akes)
● Humanity is deeply reliant on
technolo y or our survival.
● Human employees replaced
by AI.
● “Can smart machines outhink
us, or are certain elements o
human jud ement
indispensable in decidin
some o the most important
thin s in li e?”-Sandel
https://news.harvard.edu/ azette/story/2020/10/ethical-concerns-mount-as
-ai-takes-bi er-decision-makin -role/
Threat to Humanity in Frankenstein
● “Remember that I have
power;... I can make you so
wretched that the li ht o day
will be hate ul to you. You are
my creator, but I am your
master-obey!” (172).
● “Beware; or I am earless,
and there ore power ul. I will
watch with the wiliness o a
snake, that I may stin with
its venom” (173).
AI Rights and Regulation
● Blueprint or an AI Bill o Ri hts
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/
● Pla iarism and Copyri ht
● “Requirin every new product
usin AI to be prescreened or
potential social harms is not
only impractical, but would
create a hu e dra on
innovation.”-Christina
Pazzanese (Harvard Sta
Writer)
Are these ethical concerns just
science fiction and paranoia, or
is there a genuine reason for
concern?
Discussion Questions
How should we respond to
these concerns regarding
artificial intelligence? Should we
keep innovating at full speed,
enact more regulations, or put a
full-stop to AI?
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Resources
● Privacy in the A e o AI: Risks, Challen es and Solutions
(thedi italspeaker.com)
● Ethical concerns mount as AI takes bi er decision-makin role–
Harvard Gazette
https://news.harvard.edu/ azette/story/2020/10/ethical-conc
erns-mount-as-ai-takes-bi er-decision-makin -role/
● 4 shockin AI bias examples (prolific.com)
● Blueprint or an AI Bill o Ri hts | OSTP | The White House
● Shelley, Mary Wollstonecra t. Frankenstein, or, the Modern
Prometheus. Edited by Maurice Hindle, Pen uin Classics, an
Imprint o Pen uin Books, 2013.

Artificial Intelligence and Frankenstein

  • 1.
  • 2.
    3 1 2 4 What arethe major ethical concerns with AI? Privacy and Surveillance Existential Threat to Humanity Bias and Discrimination AI Rights and Regulation
  • 3.
    Privacy and Surveillance ●AI systems require vast amounts o personal data. ● This data could potentially be accessed by hackers leadin to identity the t and black mail ● As AI becomes more advanced, the AI itsel may even utilize these extensive databases to at our expense.
  • 4.
    Surveillance in Frankenstein ●“Every conversation o the cotta ers now opened up new wonders to me…the stran e system o human society was explained to me.” (Pa e 122) ● “I was shutout rom intercourse with them, except throu h means which I obtained by stealth, when I was unseen and unknown” (P . 123). ● “I looked upon them as superior bein s, who would be the arbiters o my uture destiny” (P . 117).
  • 5.
    Bias and Discrimination ●AI systems learn by example. It will adopt the biases in the data which they are trained on. ● AI can perpetuate social inequality; or instance, when used to screen job applications ● Amazon discrimination a ainst women.
  • 6.
    Bias in Frankenstein ●“She instructed her… to aspire to hi her powers o intellect and an independence o spirit orbidden to the emale ollowers o Mahomet… her lessons were indelibly impressed on the mind o Safie, who sickened at the prospect o a ain returnin to Asia” (127). ● “The cotta e o my protectors had been the only school in which I had studied human nature” (131).
  • 7.
    Existential Threat toHumanity ● Fabricatin incriminatin evidence (deep akes) ● Humanity is deeply reliant on technolo y or our survival. ● Human employees replaced by AI. ● “Can smart machines outhink us, or are certain elements o human jud ement indispensable in decidin some o the most important thin s in li e?”-Sandel https://news.harvard.edu/ azette/story/2020/10/ethical-concerns-mount-as -ai-takes-bi er-decision-makin -role/
  • 8.
    Threat to Humanityin Frankenstein ● “Remember that I have power;... I can make you so wretched that the li ht o day will be hate ul to you. You are my creator, but I am your master-obey!” (172). ● “Beware; or I am earless, and there ore power ul. I will watch with the wiliness o a snake, that I may stin with its venom” (173).
  • 9.
    AI Rights andRegulation ● Blueprint or an AI Bill o Ri hts https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/ ● Pla iarism and Copyri ht ● “Requirin every new product usin AI to be prescreened or potential social harms is not only impractical, but would create a hu e dra on innovation.”-Christina Pazzanese (Harvard Sta Writer)
  • 10.
    Are these ethicalconcerns just science fiction and paranoia, or is there a genuine reason for concern? Discussion Questions How should we respond to these concerns regarding artificial intelligence? Should we keep innovating at full speed, enact more regulations, or put a full-stop to AI? 1 2
  • 11.
    Resources ● Privacy inthe A e o AI: Risks, Challen es and Solutions (thedi italspeaker.com) ● Ethical concerns mount as AI takes bi er decision-makin role– Harvard Gazette https://news.harvard.edu/ azette/story/2020/10/ethical-conc erns-mount-as-ai-takes-bi er-decision-makin -role/ ● 4 shockin AI bias examples (prolific.com) ● Blueprint or an AI Bill o Ri hts | OSTP | The White House ● Shelley, Mary Wollstonecra t. Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus. Edited by Maurice Hindle, Pen uin Classics, an Imprint o Pen uin Books, 2013.