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Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Diffused Pivotality

Victor Klockmann (klockmann@econ.uni-frankfurt.de), Alicia von Schenk (vonschenk@econ.uni-frankfurt.de) and Marie Claire Villeval
Additional contact information
Victor Klockmann: Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 4, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany. Center for Humans & Machines, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Alicia von Schenk: Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 4, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany. Center for Humans & Machines, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany.

No 2111, Working Papers from Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon

Abstract: With Big Data, decisions made by machine learning algorithms depend on training data generated by many individuals. In an experiment, we identify the effect of varying individual responsibility for the moral choices of an artificially intelligent algorithm. Across treatments, we manipulated the sources of training data and thus the impact of each individual’s decisions on the algorithm. Diffusing such individual pivotality for algorithmic choices increased the share of selfish decisions and weakened revealed prosocial preferences. This does not result from a change in the structure of incentives. Rather, our results show that Big Data offers an excuse for selfish behavior through lower responsibility for one’s and others’ fate.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Big Data; Pivotality; Ethics; Experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C49 C91 D10 D63 D64 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-big and nep-cmp
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Artificial intelligence, ethics, and diffused pivotality (2022) Downloads
Working Paper: Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Diffused Pivotality (2021) Downloads
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