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Artificial decision-making and artificial ethics: A management concern

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Abstract

Expert systems are knowledge-based information systems which are expected to have human attributes in order to replicate human capacity in ethical decision making. An expert system functions by virtue of its information, its inferential rules, and its decision criteria, each of which may be problematic. This paper addresses three basic reasons for ethical concern when using the currently available expert systems in a decisions-making capacity. These reasons are (1) expert systems' lack of human intelligence, (2) expert systems' lack of emotions and values, and (3) expert systems' possible incorporation of intentional or accidental bias. For these reasons artificial ethics seems to be science fiction. Consequently, expert systems should be used only in an advising capacity and managers should not absolve themselves from legal and ethical responsibility when using expert systems in decision making.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Business and Industry, University of Massachussets, 02747, Partmouth, Morth Dartmouth, MA, USA

    Omar E. M. Khalil

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  1. Omar E. M. Khalil
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Omar E. M. Khalil is a visiting Lecturer of information systems at the University of Massachussets at Dartmouth. He has published in theInternational Journal of Man-Machine Studies and in several proceedings.

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Khalil, O.E.M. Artificial decision-making and artificial ethics: A management concern. J Bus Ethics 12, 313–321 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666535

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