‘Artificial Intelligence’ and Ethics

Philosopher of technology Michael Funk (U Vienna) will join us on February 19th, 4pm for an introductory lecture on Artificial Intelligence’ and Ethics. This lecture is the first part of a two part lecture (second part on February 20th) especially aimed at computer scientists, engineers and technologists.

Join us online at:
https://unistuttgart.webex.com/unistuttgart/j.php?MTID=mebb62414e14ee39f97f40b314f745d09

Abstract

Cultural techniques for processing information have been around for a very long time, from slide rules to calendars. Cuneiform writing on clay tablets and printing with movable type are examples of the processing of finite alphabets using discrete, i.e. ‘spaced’, digital state sequences. Today, we associate digital information processing primarily with Turing-powerful electronic digital computers and big data. Ever since ChatGPT was launched at the end of 2022, ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI) has been on everyone’s lips. This lecture begins in the 1940s and spans the arc to today’s large language models. Using selected episodes, authors and concepts, it tells a dual story: the emergence of today’s information processing in conjunction with its social, philosophical and ethical reflection. In fact, AI ethics began in the 1940s at the latest, was enriched by developments in applied ethics in the 1970s, and today has achieved particular prominence in the areas of regulation, technology assessment and ethical guidelines. Against this backdrop, the stories of technology ethics behind current buzzwords such as ‘trustworthy and transparent AI’ or ‘bias’ become visible.