Lies told by robots can be tolerable, but only when they serve to protect people, especially in sensitive situations. One example is that of a robot nurse who reassures a patient with Alzheimer’s, telling her that her husband will be home soon, even if that is not true. This scenario was rated as morally acceptable by the majority of participants in the study conducted by George Mason University, published in Frontiers.
Lies to Protect or Deceive? Who is Responsible for the Lies?
Lies to protect or deceive?
The study explored several scenarios in which these machines lie. In addition to the nurse robot, other examples included a housekeeping robot that hides the fact that it is filming what happens, or a shop assistant robot that feigns tiredness so that a human can replace it. While the first lie was widely accepted, the other two were harshly condemned. About 500 participants rated the severity of the lies in each scenario and their moral justification. While the nurse robot’s lie was seen as necessary to avoid emotional pain, the covert recording robot’s lie was considered very deceitful.
Who is responsible for the lies?
The research also raised the question of responsibility. According to the participants, it is not these machines themselves that should be held responsible, but rather the developers and owners of the machines. This is because, according to researcher Andres Rosero, behind these lies can hide a dangerous manipulative potential. “We need rules that protect us from deceptive behavior and technologies that use artificial intelligence,” said Rosero.
As technology and artificial intelligence evolve, it becomes increasingly important to establish ethical rules and guidelines that ensure transparency and protect users. The lies these machines tell could indeed be a sign of greater autonomy, but without a regulatory framework, they risk becoming tools of manipulation.
