fog of war
See: Champagne2015BridgingResponsibility
The "fog of war" is a term used to describe the uncertainty, confusion, and lack of information that exists during military conflicts. It refers to the challenges faced by commanders and soldiers in making decisions due to incomplete or unreliable information about the enemy's capabilities, intentions, and actions.
In the context of AI Ethics, the fog of war concept can be applied metaphorically to highlight similar challenges faced in understanding and managing the ethical implications of artificial intelligence systems. Due to their complexity and rapid advancement as well as the rapid-fire, time-sensitive contexts in which they are applied, it can be difficult to fully comprehend AI technologies or anticipate all the ethical consequences of their deployment.
The fog of war in AI Ethics arises from several factors:
- Lack of transparency: AI systems often operate as black boxes, making it challenging to understand how they reach their decisions or predictions. This opacity makes it difficult for individuals or organizations to identify potential biases or discriminatory outcomes.
- Rapid technological advancements: The pace at which AI technologies evolve can create a gap between ethical considerations and their implementation. Policies and regulations may struggle to keep up with emerging risks and challenges.
- Unintended consequences: The complex nature of AI systems makes it challenging to predict all possible outcomes accurately. Unforeseen consequences may arise as these technologies are deployed in real-world scenarios.