Ethics for AI and Robotics

Potential deployments of AI and intelligent robots raise ethical questions about the impacts they may have on human well-being, just like other powerful tools or technologies such as nuclear power or genetic engineering.

Unlike other technologies, intelligent robots and other AIs have the potential to act, and to be considered, as members of our society. Since they will make their own decisions about the actions they take, it is appropriate for humans to expect them to behave ethically. This requires AI research with the goal of understanding the structure, content, and purpose of ethical knowledge, well enough to implement ethics in artificial agents.

The Class I Teach

Lots of relevant information in the lecture schedule and assigned readings.

What To Read First

Read these four papers.

The 2022 paper below, Trust and Cooperation, goes into depth on the key role of trust in the relationship between the individual and society.

All Papers


BJK