Oral Presentations Abstracts: TRANSLATIONAL ETHICS: JUSTIFIED ROLES OF BIOETHICISTS WITHIN AND BEYOND LIFECYCLES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS IN HEALTH

Abstract

View of Volume 66, Special Issue, September 2021

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems hold great promise for the future development within a variety of sectors. At the same time, there is also great concern about harms and potential misuse of AI. Upscaling and implementing existing AI systems do already have the potential of affecting severely, and potentially irreversibly, fundamental social conditions for social interaction, professional autonomy, and political governance. Therefore, guiding principles and frameworks to support developers and governing authorities are emerging around the world to foster justified trust in AI research and innovation. Ultimately, these safeguarding institutions and mechanisms rely on human knowledge and wisdom.

Health is an area that is expected to benefit from AI based technologies aimed at promoting beneficial, accurate and effective preventive and curative interventions. Also, machine learning technologies might be used to improve the accuracy of the evidence base for cost-effective and beneficial decision-making. How can bioethicists contribute to promote beneficial AI interventions and avoid harms produced by AI technology? What would be justified roles of bioethicists in development and use of AI systems?

 Method: The paper is based on literature review and philosophical reflection.

 Discussion: In this presentation, we will base our analysis on an analytical decomposition of the life cycle of AI systems into the phases of development, deployment and use.

Furthermore, we will use a framework of translational ethics proposed by Bærøe, and identify a variety of structural tasks, as well as limitations to such, for bioethicists to undertake within this emerging multifold area of experts and disciplines.