Abstract
This study deals with the nature of a post-truth society, which is imminent, considering the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based information systems that use machine learning methods such as deep learning, as well as the social attitudes and responsibilities of organisations that develop, implement, operate and/or use those systems. In such a society, the truths about individuals, groups, organisations, communities, societies, nations, things, events and the world become meaningless or worthless; individuals are treated as black boxes to be manipulated and exploited by malicious AI-based system operators; and the four factors that erode accountability in computing—many hands, bugs, the computer as a scapegoat, and ownership without liability [Nissenbaum (Science and Engineering Ethics 2(1):25–42, 1996)]—worsen because of the unpredictability and uncontrollability of AI-based system behaviours, leading to a lack of responsibility and accountability in AI computing. To prevent the full emergence of a post-truth society or mitigate risks associated with such a society, and to restore responsibility and accountability to computing, organisations that are key players in AI computing must be required to proactively address ethical and social issues caused by the development and use of AI-based systems.
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Notes
- 1.
Thinking far-distant future, we may need to specify the conditions of granting legal personality to AI-based systems before it is too late. But, this is beyond the scope of this study.
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Acknowledgements
This study is based on the author’s previous work with Dr. Yohko Orito of Ehime University, Mr. Tatsuya Yamazaki of the University of Toyama and Dr. Kazuyuki Shimizu of Meiji University, which was presented at the ETHICOMP 2020 conference and published as a full conference paper under the title of “Post-truth society: the AI-driven society where no one is responsible” (Yamazaki et al., 2020). The author thanks these colleagues for their enthusiastic participation in discussions about the phenomena of the post-truth society. The author also thanks Dr. Fareed Ben-Youssef of Texas Tech University and Dr. Paul B. de Laat of the University of Groningen for helpful suggestions provided during the conference. This study was supported by the JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 20K01920.
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Murata, K. (2022). Post-Truth: Organisational Social Responsibility in an AI-Driven Society. In: Bounfour, A. (eds) Platforms and Artificial Intelligence . Progress in IS. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90192-9_13
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