Month: May 2024

Abstract

Risks connected with AI systems have become a recurrent topic in public and academic debates, and the European proposal for the AI Act explicitly adopts a risk-based tiered approach that associates different levels of regulation with different levels of risk. However, a comprehensive and general framework to think about AI-related risk is still lacking. In this work, we aim to provide an epistemological analysis of such risk building upon the existing literature on disaster risk analysis and reduction. We show how a multi-component analysis of risk, that distinguishes between the dimensions of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, allows us to better understand the sources of AI-related risks and effectively intervene to mitigate them. This multi-component analysis also turns out to be particularly useful in the case of general-purpose and experimental AI systems, for which it is often hard to perform both ex-ante and ex-post risk analyses.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. Artificial intelligence can be both a blessing and a curse, and potentially a double-edged sword if not carefully wielded. While it holds massive potential benefits to humans—particularly in healthcare by assisting in treatment of diseases, surgeries, record keeping, and easing the lives of both patients and doctors, its misuse has potential for harm through impact of biases, unemployment, breaches of privacy, and lack of accountability to mention a few. In this article, we discuss the fourth industrial revolution, through a focus on the core of this phenomenon, artificial intelligence. We outline what the fourth industrial revolution is, its basis around AI, and how this infiltrates human lives and society, akin to a transcendence. We focus on the potential dangers of AI and the ethical concerns it brings about particularly in developing countries in general and conflict zones in particular, and we offer potential solutions to such dangers. While we acknowledge the importance and potential of AI, we also call for cautious reservations before plunging straight into the exciting world of the future, one which we long have heard of only in science fiction movies.

Abstract

In this paper, I develop and defend a moralized conception of epistemic trust in science against a particular kind of non-moral account defended by John (2015, 2018). I suggest that non-epistemic value considerations, non-epistemic norms of communication and affective trust properly characterize the relationship of epistemic trust between scientific experts and non-experts. I argue that it is through a moralized account of epistemic trust in science that we can make sense of the deep-seated moral undertones that are often at play when non-experts (dis)trust science.

Abstract

This study investigates whether ICT development modulates the effect of public health expenditure on health outcomes in a sample of forty-eight (48) African countries over the period 2000–2018. We approach health outcomes through under-five mortality, infant mortality, and life expectancy at birth. As measures of ICT indicators, we use mobile cellular subscriptions, the number of Internet users and an ICT development index constructed through principal component analysis (PCA) on the two previous ICT indicators. In addition, the relationship between public health expenditure, ICT development and health outcomes is examined in a dynamic framework using the system generalized method of moments (System-GMM). The results show that ICT development is important in the relationship between public health expenditure and health outcomes in Africa. Indeed, the net effect obtained when ICT is associated with public health expenditure is negative for mortality variables and positive for life expectancy at birth. These results suggest that the penetration of ICT in the African health system improves the population health. The policy implication is that African policymakers should promote the ICT diffusion in the health sector so that the goal of significantly improving health outcomes through committed investments in this sector is achieved in a sustainable manner in Africa.