There’s nothing like sloppy journalism, hype and propaganda when it comes to selling AI. All it requires to expose propaganda and hype is a little bit of critical thinking. And, there’s not much of that in safety.
Let’s just start with the opening line: ‘Artificial intelligence is expected to reshape job roles, psychosocial demands and workplace safety risks by 2040, according to an international report.’ Really, so AI is going to tackle psychosocial demands? How? It can’t ‘think’, can’t ‘empathise’, can’t ‘care’, can’t walk and converse/listen, can’t build trust, can’t understand trauma, can’t understand personhood or ethics, it can only replicate paperwork. And we all know that paperwork is not a defence in court or a demonstration of safety.
All of the skills required by a human person to engage persons in the workplace CANNOT be done by AI!
But apparently according to the AIHS, AI will be doing ‘psychosocial demands’. Fascinating. How is AI going to engage in counselling mental health when it has no body, no consciousness and will never know what it is to live or to be???
And, we are only at the first line of this article. It is what one would expect from a body that hasn’t got a clue about Ethics (try to read the amateurish nonsense chapter in the AIHS BoK that says nothing about power, zero or any of the most critical issues in ethics (https://safetyrisk.net/the-aihs-bok-and-ethics-check-your-gut/). Maybe it was written by AI, it is that bad.
What is this research it quotes? Yet another Safety product on AI that yet again makes no mention of ethics or the ethics of AI. Surprise surprise. I know, let’s do some research on AI and make sure we don’t raise any ethical issues. Indeed, the word ‘ethics’ or ‘morality’ are never mentioned. Yet, is this not a paper on the way AI will affect persons?
The first article is the same. Here we are implored to adopt AI and join the ‘transformation’ and yet no discussion of ethics or any ethical implications of AI.
Neither AIHS article offers any mature advice about AI. Both articles are little more than AI hype and propaganda.
If you really want a make a start on learning about the implications of AI for safety from an ethical perspective then perhaps download our book The Ethics of Risk, A Transdisciplinary Method (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/the-ethics-of-risk/) and read chapter AI, Data and Ethics pp. 84-97.
The first place to start in considering the effect of AI on safety is to understand its power and what it does to persons.
Similarly, one needs to note what AI cannot do and can never do. The chapter in our book is loaded with extensive links to research on AI and the many myths and propaganda of AI. Many perpetuated in these articles by the AIHS.
One thing for sure, if you want to learn about AI and the ethical implications it has for safety. Then, don’t consult the AIHS.
PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA
Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.
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