Moral control and ownership in AI systems

AI systems are bringing an augmentation of human capabilities to shape the world. They may also drag a replacement of human conscience in large chunks of life. AI systems can be designed to leave moral control in human hands, to obstruct or diminish that moral control, or even to prevent it, replacing human morality with pre-packaged or developed 'solutions' by the 'intelligent' machine itself.
Artificial Intelligent systems (AIS) are increasingly being used in multiple applications and receiving more attention from public and private organizations. Practitioners must ensure that AIS are governable, open, transparent and understandable, able to work efficiently with people and consistent with human values and aspirations. The purpose of this article is to offer a fundamental mapping of the technological architectures that support AIS, under the specific focus of moral agency.
Through a literature research and reflection process, we explore questions related with four aspects of AI systems: Problem definition in the use of AI for complex issues (part 1); a review and taxonomy of artificial “reasoning” architectures (part 2); Influence of the data input and the data quality (part 3); AI systems in decision support and decision making scenarios (part 4). Finally, we offer some conclusions regarding the potential loss of moral control by humans due to AI.
This article contributes to the field of Ethics and Artificial Intelligence by providing a discussion for developers and researchers in order to understand how and under what circumstances the 'human subject' may, totally or partially, lose moral control and ownership over AI technologies.

AI systems are bringing an augmentation of human capabilities to shape the world. They may also drag a replacement of human conscience in large chunks of life. AI systems can be designed to leave moral control in human hands, to obstruct or diminish that moral control, or even to prevent it, replacing human morality with pre-packaged or developed 'solutions' by the 'intelligent' machine itself.
Artificial Intelligent systems (AIS) are increasingly being used in multiple applications and receiving more attention from public and private organizations. Practitioners must ensure that AIS are governable, open, transparent and understandable, able to work efficiently with people and consistent with human values and aspirations. The purpose of this article is to offer a fundamental mapping of the technological architectures that support AIS, under the specific focus of moral agency.
Through a literature research and reflection process, we explore questions related with four aspects of AI systems: Problem definition in the use of AI for complex issues (part 1); a review and taxonomy of artificial “reasoning” architectures (part 2); Influence of the data input and the data quality (part 3); AI systems in decision support and decision making scenarios (part 4). Finally, we offer some conclusions regarding the potential loss of moral control by humans due to AI.
This article contributes to the field of Ethics and Artificial Intelligence by providing a discussion for developers and researchers in order to understand how and under what circumstances the 'human subject' may, totally or partially, lose moral control and ownership over AI technologies.