Governing Dual-Use Technology | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The panel discusses the complex issues surrounding the sale and trade of dual use technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, and the need for global regulations and ethical considerations.

Key Insights

• 😒 The accessibility and affordability of AI technologies have led to their widespread use and potential military applications.
• ⏯️ Ethical norms and personal accountability of researchers play a significant role in governing the development and use of AI technologies.
• 😒 The challenges of effectively regulating AI technologies lie in their rapid advancement and complexities, making it difficult to predict their uses and implications.
• 🌐 Norms and discussions at international forums, such as the UN, are crucial in developing global governance mechanisms for AI technologies.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How does the flexibility and accessibility of modern AI technologies complicate governing their sale and trade?

Prof. David Shim points out that AI technology, once expensive and difficult to use, has become accessible and affordable, leading to its proliferation. The challenge lies in governing its sale and trade due to the ease of use and potential for misuse.

Q: Should restrictions be placed on the sale and trade of AI technologies to prevent their potential military applications?

Corey Schottky argues that while restrictions may be ideal, it is practically difficult to enforce. She believes the focus should be on ethical norms and individual accountability of researchers in developing and using AI technologies.

Q: How can accountability be ensured in the use of AI technologies, particularly in military applications?

Prof. David Shim suggests that meaningful human control is crucial in ensuring accountability. However, he acknowledges the challenges in implementing this control, especially with the increasing autonomy and decision-making capabilities of AI systems.

Q: Is it fair to compare the ethics of a military pilot and someone approving a strike by an AI-powered drone?

Corey Schottky mentions that the burden of responsibility ultimately rests on the person making the decision. However, the scale of decisions made by AI systems poses greater challenges, making individual accountability and ethical norms crucial in avoiding potential harm.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The panel discusses the challenges of governing the sale and trade of dual use technologies, including AI, robotics, and quantum computing.

• Prof. David Shim explains how AI can be repurposed for military applications, highlighting the need for meaningful human control over automated decision-making.

• Corey Schottky emphasizes the importance of considering ethics and professional standards in the development and use of AI technologies.

• The panel recognizes the difficulties of regulating these rapidly advancing technologies and suggests that ethical norms and personal accountability of researchers may be more effective than regulatory measures.