"The interaction between man and machine raises new ethical questions in the time of digitization and self-learning systems. Automated and networked driving is the latest innovation in which this interaction is applied in full." - said the German Federal Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt when presenting the report on automated driving.
The German federal government will adopt new guidelines for self-driving cars inside the country, which will prioritize the value and equality of human life over damage to property or animals.
The ethical question of this technology remains to be answered to many.
An interesting point is that even though autonomous vehicles will reduce traffic accidents, many consumers still choose to oppose the technology, paradoxially increasing casualties by postponing the adoption for a safer technology.
The debate really sparked upon release of a game called "Moral Machine"
from MIT's researchers. In the game you choose what the car should do. After the test you get some analytics about your ethics. A trolley problem as it is called.
A widely cited study explains that when asked, presented with this dilemma, a majority of the participants expressed, that a utilitarian approach would be preferable.
Although
But this study presents the first hint of a social dilemma.
Respondents were then asked to indicate how likely they would be to buy an AV programmed to minimize casualties (which would, in these circumstances, sacrifice them and their corider family member), and how likely they would be to buy an AV programmed to prioritize protecting its passengers, even if it meant killing 10 or 20 pedestrians. Eveb though the participants still agreed that utilitarian AVs were the most moral, they preferred the selfprotective model for themselves.
Will the Germans lead the way towards deciding the future of autonomous vehicles?
If you know of other countries/companies working with solving these ethical questions, feel free to share your knowledge!
PICTURE CREDIT: TheSeaRogue
