What robot dogs and moral machines have to do with digital ethics

Digital technologies are changing our world. But the way we deal with them is different all over the world. At an international conference, the OeAW and WWTF will shed light on what digital ethics could look like for the 21st century characterized by cultural diversity. Highlights include the public keynote speech by Edward Awad, inventor of the Moral Machine, and an artistic performance by robot dog "Spot".

Does anyone remember "Deep Blue"? The chess machine beat the then reigning world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a historic tournament in 1997. It was the first time that a computer overtook human intelligence in a creative field.

Today, we are surrounded by artificial intelligence everywhere. It is associated with numerous opportunities, but also with risks and fears. The latter often dominate the debate on digital technologies in Europe. The European Union often responds to the fears of its citizens by regulating AI. But what's the situation like in other parts of the world?

This question was asked by a research project as part of the OeAW platform AGIDE (Academies for Global Innovation and Digital Ethics). Eleven science academies on six continents have investigated which narratives influence the way digital technologies are viewed and used.

The results of the research will now be presented to a broad audience for the first time at an international conference. Related social issues will also be discussed: How are the relationships between humans and machines changing in a world where both are increasingly interconnected? How do we deal with moral dilemmas raised by new technologies - such as accidents involving self-driving cars? And what can digital ethics for the 21st century look like that takes the socio-cultural diversity of our planet seriously?

Highlights of the conference include a performance with Boston Dynamics' robot dog "Spot" and the artist Silke Grabinger. Robot psychologist Martina Mara will take up the performance to discuss with the audience how people perceive and evaluate machines. Edmond Awad from the University of Oxford and University of Exeter, on the other hand, asks how machines deal with moral decision-making situations - and how humans can support them.

The event entitled "Narratives of Digital Ethics" is a joint event of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) and the Vienna Science and Technology Fund WWTF.

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