Ethical Risk Factors and Mechanisms in Artificial Intelligence Decision Making

Hongjun Guan; Liye Dong; Aiwu Zhao

doi:10.3390/bs12090343

Ethical Risk Factors and Mechanisms in Artificial Intelligence Decision Making

Behav Sci (Basel). 2022 Sep 16;12(9):343. doi: 10.3390/bs12090343.

Authors

Hongjun Guan^{1

2}, Liye Dong¹, Aiwu Zhao^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Management Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250000, China.
² Institute of Marine Economy and Management, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250000, China.

Abstract

While artificial intelligence (AI) technology can enhance social wellbeing and progress, it also generates ethical decision-making dilemmas such as algorithmic discrimination, data bias, and unclear accountability. In this paper, we identify the ethical risk factors of AI decision making from the perspective of qualitative research, construct a risk-factor model of AI decision making ethical risks using rooting theory, and explore the mechanisms of interaction between risks through system dynamics, based on which risk management strategies are proposed. We find that technological uncertainty, incomplete data, and management errors are the main sources of ethical risks in AI decision making and that the intervention of risk governance elements can effectively block the social risks arising from algorithmic, technological, and data risks. Accordingly, we propose strategies for the governance of ethical risks in AI decision making from the perspectives of management, research, and development.

Keywords: artificial intelligence decision making; ethical risk; mechanism of action; risk factors.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by [Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Program (Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project)] grant number [2021SFGC0102, 2020CXGC010110].