MB112 Business Ethics Assessment Answer

Overview

The article written by Kelly, (2023) is based upon the new feature of Snapchat that is powered by ChatGPT's AI technology called My AI chatbot. This innovative tool provides the ability for the users to engage themselves in conversations, look for recommendations as well as pose queries (Health, 2023). As per the company Snapchat, (2023), this advanced feature of Snapchat stands out due to its customization feature that helps the users to personalize the chatbot’s name and design a unique avatar. Though the goal of this feature is to provide a more customized user experience, it also weakens the boundaries between human and machine interactions (Kelly, 2023). As a result, concerns regarding ethics are raised, particularly in its impact on young users.

The article's main ethical problems are derived from the concerns of several stakeholders, including young users and their parents. It is observed in the article by Kelly, (2023) that Lyndsi Lee, a mother, voices her concern about her 13-year-old daughter's interaction with the chatbot. She also highlights the challenges in teaching younger users to distinguish between humans and robots on an emotional level (Kelly, 2023). Moreover, privacy concerns as well as profound negative experiences of the users also emerge as critical ethical dilemmas (Bae Brandtzaeg et al., 2021). A number of uncomfortable interactions have been reported by users, including times when the chatbot appeared to give false information. Moreover, the inability to remove the feature without purchasing a premium service raises questions about user access and control (Kelly, 2023).

Apart from this, it is also observed in the article that an American businessman, Michael Bennet highlighted his concerns about the chatbot's influence on younger users, citing instances where it purportedly suggested dishonest behaviour. The responsibility of tech companies in experimenting with AI-powered features in society, especially with youths is made apparent by this wider discussion (Shah, 2022). As a whole, it can be said that this media article underscores the pressing need for a more profound exploration of ethical implications, especially for privacy of the young users.

Analysis

A serious ethical dilemma related to the blending of human and machine interactions is brought up by Snapchat's new feature- My AI chatbot, especially for younger users. Analyzing this issue through the lens of ethical theories sheds light on the reasons behind its occurrence, contributing factors, and potential consequences.

In order to understand the ethical implications of My AI's deployment can be gained by applying ethical theories like consequentialism and deontology. As per the views of Card & Smith (2020), consequentialism evaluates actions based on their consequences, prioritizing outcomes over the inherent nature of actions. Within the context of the article, the customization capabilities intended to improve user experience, unintentionally lead to a misleading impression among younger users. As a result, children may experience confusion and emotional distress as they struggle to understand the true nature of these interactions (Stapleton et al., 2022). Therefore, ethical theory of consequentialism which emphasizes the importance of minimizing harm and maximizing good outcomes, aligns with the concerns raised in the article.

However, there are many significant factors which are contributing to this ethical issue. Firstly, the rapid integration of AI technology into social media platforms without considering its impact on young population contribute significantly to this issue (Brandtzaeg et al., 2022). By the views of Stapleton et al., (2022) it is acknowledged that the pace of technical innovation frequently outpaces ethical consideration, resulting in unintended implications like blurring of human-AI relations. Secondly, it can be said from works of Shah, (2022) that the ethical conundrum is made worse by providing top priority to user participation and customization features without substantial safeguards. As per the works of Stapleton et al., (2022), although AI features improve the user experience, they unintentionally create a misleading environment for the younger users. In addition, it can be said that the lack of clear communication or instruction about the nature of interactions with the chatbot complicates matters even further (Bae Brandtzaeg et al., 2021). This is because the authors Elkhatat et al., (2023) say that children often struggle to distinguish between genuine human chats and AI-generated responses. In addition, another factor responsible for this issue can be the absence of clear mechanisms for user control and access (Shah, 2022).

While illustrating the consequences of this issue, it can be said that this ethical issue tends to risk the emotional thinking ability of young individuals and causes harm to their psychological wellness. This ethical issue impacts their understanding of genuine human interactions versus AI-driven conversations which can provide false information (Elkhatat et al., 2023). Additionally, the consequences affect how society views and talks about the use of AI in social media (Shah, 2022). The negative experiences and concerns raised by parents, users, and businessmen have prompted broader societal conversations (Brandtzaeg et al., 2022). These discussions revolve around the ethical responsibility of tech companies while deploying AI-driven features in future.

Stakeholders

Parents and Guardians : This ethical issue holds a profound negative impact on the parents or guardians (Lin et al., 2021). They are the ones who are affected immediately by the ethical concerns of using the My AI chatbot of Snapchat with their children. The emotional distress faced by their children due to deceptive perceptions can cause significant worry and stress for parents (Lin et al., 2021). However, one positive side is that this issue provides an opportunity for parents to engage in meaningful discussions with their children about digital literacy. It encourages open conversations about online safety and responsible usage of technology, fostering a more vigilant approach to their children's online experiences (Elkhatat et al., 2023).

Young Users : This ethical issue impacts young users by creating confusion and mistrust among them regarding their digital safety. This stems from the inability of young individuals to discern between real and AI-generated conversations which might provide misleading information (Elkhatat et al., 2023). In terms of positive impact, this situation prompts critical thinking and awareness among young users about the complexities of AI. This encourages them to develop better digital literacy skills (Lin et al., 2021). Additionally, it might give them confidence to advocate for clearer guidelines and security measures on social media sites so as to protect their friends and themselves (Shah, 2022).

Snapchat company : The particular company faces much criticism as well as reputational damage because of the ethical concerns surrounding their new feature called My AI chatbot. This issue can cause decreased user trust, especially among parents concerned about their children's online safety, thereby impacting their financial growth (Brandtzaeg et al., 2022). However, there is also a positive impact as this issue also presents an opportunity for Snapchat to reassess its ethical responsibilities towards younger users (Bae Brandtzaeg et al., 2021). Gaining trust again may require addressing issues, setting more precise rules, and offering greater user control.

Elon Musk Has Fired Twitter’s ‘Ethical AI’ Team

This media article written by Knight (2022) covers the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk and the subsequent cost-cutting decision that eliminated the platform's "Ethical AI" team. Musk had initially raised the possibility of opening up Twitter's algorithm to public scrutiny in an effort to alleviate concerns about bias (Knight, 2022). However, in the midst of the strategy to reduce staff and simplify operations, Musk's management decided to fire the AI transparency and fairness team, which caused some controversy.

The ethical issues identified stem from Twitter's firing of the team responsible for improving AI ethics, transparency, and accountability (Sherry et al., 2022). The removal of the "Ethical AI" team by Musk as a cost-cutting move raises concerns. Moreover, his management's alleged directives to halt disruptive research projects demonstrate a preference for financial goals over ethical responsibilities (Sherry et al., 2022). So, such a decision raises questions about the commitment of tech companies to uphold ethical standards in AI development and transparency regarding algorithmic biases.

Additionally, the team's termination bears an impact on ongoing research targeted at detecting and reducing biases in Twitter's algorithms (Ott et al., 2023). This could make it more difficult to expose prejudices associated with political opinions and other facets of society (Knight, 2022). As a result, the general public is deprived of certain important information about the working of the AI algorithms (Ott et al., 2023). It underscores broader concerns about the influence of corporate interests over ethical considerations in technology development, particularly in social media platforms (Sherry et al., 2022). Overall, the sudden removal of Twitter's 'Ethical AI' team prompts questions about the responsibilities of tech companies towards ethical AI practices, which is discussed in this article.

Analysis

The ethical theory, especially utilitarianism, provides valuable insights into the reasons behind the event occurring as well as its consequences (Emdad et al., 2023). One of the most well-known frameworks of consequentialism is utilitarianism theory where actions should increase overall happiness or utility for the largest number of people (Dale, 2020). In the context of dissolving Twitter's 'Ethical AI' team, a utilitarian perspective suggests that the decision aimed to optimize financial efficiency for the company's benefit (Emdad et al., 2023). Musk's cost-cutting measures are in line with a utilitarian strategy since they may increase Twitter's profitability, which would help investors and the company's viability. From the works of Ott et al., (2023), it can be said that prioritizing financial advantages over maintaining the team's ethical standards may be regarded as maximizing utility from a financial standpoint. However, this decision of Musk might compromise the ethical oversight of AI practices within the organization (Sherry et al., 2022).

Some of the critical factors that led to this decision include a cost-saving strategy as well as a lack of direct financial returns. Musk's focus on cost reduction as a means to streamline Twitter's operations played a pivotal role (Binder, 2023). It can be said from the views of Binder, (2023) that the emphasis on cost reduction amid Musk's management goals might have overshadowed the value of the ethical team. Another factor could be the perception of low priority. The projects of the 'Ethical AI' team may have been viewed as less important in comparison to other pressing challenges within the organization, like product development, revenue generation or user engagement (Knight, 2022). The team's elimination may have occurred as a result of decision-makers deprioritizing the team's work due to their reduced priority (Knight, 2022).

However, the consequences of disintegrating the 'Ethical AI' team by Elon Musk can be multifaceted. The short-term impact might include accountability, transparency, and loss of critical control over algorithmic biases within Twitter's AI systems (Binder, 2023). So, it can be said from the views of Sherry et al., (2022) that this void could result in unchecked biases, reduced transparency, and potentially unethical AI practices, thereby impacting user experiences. On the other hand, long-term impact can include the damage to the company’s reputation. The removal of a dedicated team focused on ethical AI practices could result in public distrust, especially among users concerned about algorithmic biases and ethical AI development (Ott et al., 2023).

Stakeholders

Shareholders and Investors : One of the positive impacts of this ethical concern is that the shareholders might initially perceive cost-saving measures positively, expecting increased profitability and efficiency. However, this event of dissolution of the 'Ethical AI' team could negatively impact the company's stock value as well as the confidence of investors (Binder, 2023). Moreover, it could also lead to reputational damage, impacting the long-term trust of the investor.

Twitter Users : Twitter users may initially experience a seamless interface without immediate disruptions from the dissolution of the 'Ethical AI' team. Maintaining a sense of continuity in their user experience, they can believe that the platform is running as usual with no sudden changes. However, the trust of the users can be damaged by the absence of ethical supervision and transparency (Sherry et al., 2022). The author Binder, (2023) says that the ethical issues or biases may drive consumers away, reducing the platform's user base and overall engagement. This loss of trust may lead to people exploring other platforms that prioritize ethical AI methods and transparency (Sherry et al., 2022).

Twitter as a company : As part of the company's cost-cutting efforts, the "Ethical AI" team's elimination might result in short-term cost savings. This measure could help in simplifying operations, which results in short-term financial gains (Knight, 2022). However, in the long run, this move risks damaging Twitter's reputation due to the absence of dedicated oversight for ethical AI practices. This gap could trigger increased scrutiny and ethical concerns, eroding user trust (Knight, 2022). This lack of confidence could ultimately affect long-term user engagement and retention, jeopardizing the platform's general sustainability and reputation in the social media landscape.

References

Bae Brandtzaeg, P. B., Skjuve, M., Kristoffer Dysthe, K. K., & Følstad, A. (2021, May). When the social becomes non-human: young people's perception of social support in chatbots. In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems (pp. 1-13). https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/86030/chi21-278_accessible.pdf?sequence=2

Binder, M., (2023). Elon Musk questions Microsoft cutting its AI ethics team after doing the same at Twitter. Mashable . https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-ai-ethics-safety-microsoft-twitter-layoffs

Brandtzaeg, P. B., Skjuve, M., & Følstad, A. (2022). My AI friend: How users of a social chatbot understand their human–AI friendship. Human Communication Research , 48(3), 404-429. 10.1093/hcr/hqac008

Card, D., & Smith, N. A. (2020). On consequentialism and fairness.  Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence ,  3 , 34. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2020.00034

Dale, S. (2020). Utilitarianism in crisis. Voices in Bioethics , 6. https://doi.org/10.7916/vib.v6i.6082

Elkhatat, A. M., Elsaid, K., & Almeer, S. (2023). Evaluating the efficacy of AI content detection tools in differentiating between human and AI-generated text. International Journal for Educational Integrity , 19(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-023-00140-5

Emdad, F. B., Ho, S. M., Ravuri, B., & Hussain, S. (2023). Towards A Unified Utilitarian Ethics Framework for Healthcare Artificial Intelligence. Cornell University . https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2309.14617

Health, A., (2023). Snapchat is releasing its own AI chatbot powered by ChatGPT. The Verge . https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/27/23614959/snapchat-my-ai-chatbot-chatgpt-openai-plus-subscription

Kelly, S.M, (2023). Snapchat’s new AI chatbot is already raising alarms among teens and parents. CNN Business . https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/27/tech/snapchat-my-ai-concerns-wellness/index.html

Knight, W., (2022). Elon Musk Has Fired Twitter’s ‘Ethical AI’ Team. WIRED . https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-ethical-ai-team/ 

Lin, C., Šabanović, S., Dombrowski, L., Miller, A. D., Brady, E., & MacDorman, K. F. (2021). Parental acceptance of children’s storytelling robots: A projection of the uncanny valley of AI. Frontiers in Robotics and AI , 8, 579993. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2021.579993

Mukhopadhyay, S., & Chakrabarti, A. (2023). A Review on the Impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Youth. Handbook of Youth Development: Policies and Perspectives from India and Beyond , 195-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4969-4_11

Ott, B. L., & Hoelscher, C. S. (2023). The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership. World, 4(4), 726-744. https://doi.org/10.3390/world4040046

Shah, B. (2022, December). A Comprehensive Review of the Negative Impact of Integration of AI in Social-Media in Mental Health of Users. In 2022 5th International Conference on Advances in Science and Technology (ICAST) (pp. 431-434). IEEE. 10.1109/ICAST55766.2022.10039585

Sherry, B., (2022). Why Elon Musk's Firing of Twitter's Ethical AI Team Is Bad Business. Inc . https://www.inc.com/ben-sherry/elon-musk-twitter-firings-ethical-ai-artificial-intelligence.html

Snapchat, (2023). What is My AI on Snapchat and how do I use it? https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/13266788358932-What-is-My-AI-on-Snapchat-and-how-do-I-use-it-

Stapleton, L., Lee, M. H., Qing, D., Wright, M., Chouldechova, A., Holstein, K., ... & Zhu, H. (2022, June). Imagining new futures beyond predictive systems in child welfare: A qualitative study with impacted stakeholders. In Proceedings of the 2022 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (pp. 1162-1177). https://doi.org/10.1145/3531146.3533177

You Might Also Like:-

Why are professional ethics important?

Business Ethics Assignment Help Australia

MMM343 – Business Ethics

Looking For Complete Assignment Sample Get It On WhatsApp