Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: A Call for Dialogue

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: A Call for Dialogue

Dear STEM-net Horizons Community,

As we reflect on the groundbreaking achievements recognized by the 2024 Nobel Prizes, we are reminded of how science continuously shapes the world around us. Last year’s laureates in Physics (the Physics Nobel Prize was awarded jointly to Prof. John J. Hopfield and Prof. Geoffrey Hinton) and in Chemistry (one half was awarded to Prof. David Baker and the other half jointly to Dr. Demis Hassabis and Dr. John Jumper) have pushed the boundaries of human knowledge, inspiring us to think critically about the future of technology, particularly in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AI has become an integral part of our daily lives, driving advancements in many scientific fields such as medicine, engineering, automation and decision-making. With its rapid evolution comes an urgent need to address its ethical implications.

How do we ensure that AI remains a tool for progress rather than a force for inequality?
What ethical responsibilities do scientists and engineers have when developing AI systems?
Where should we draw the line between human and machine intelligence?

As President of the STEM-net Horizons, I invite you all to participate in an open ideas exchange where we can critically discuss these pressing issues. Whether you are passionate about AI’s technical aspects, its societal impact or the philosophy behind machine ethics, your voice matters.

Stay tuned for upcoming discussions, events, and collaborations! I encourage you to share your thoughts by email in stemnethorizons@gmail.com and contribute to articles that can drive meaningful conversations. Your comments and articles will be posted on the Student Forum after a basic plagiarism check.

Together, let’s push the frontiers of knowledge and responsibility.

Best,

Bakos Christos
Founder & President, STEM-net Horizons

VIP COMMENTS

Dimitris Papastergiou
Greek Minister of Digital Governance

Dear Christos Bakos,

As the Greek Minister of Digital Governance, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and your STEM-net Horizons global student community for initiating this important dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics. Your dedication to discussing such a transformative global issue is truly commendable.

The role of AI in shaping our future cannot be overlooked and it is inspiring to see young minds like yours leading the conversation. By fostering collaboration and critical thinking, you are not only contributing to the advancement of technology but also ensuring that ethical and responsible innovation remains at the forefront.

I applaud your vision and commitment to addressing global challenges through STEM and I wish you and your community every success in this endeavor. May your discussions be insightful, impactful and a driving force for positive change.

Congratulations and best wishes for a successful initiative!

Warm regards,
Dimitris Papastergiou
Greek Minister of Digital Governance

COMMENTS:

Date: March 13, 2025

The main question I will answer is how to make AI a tool for progress, not inequality. It seems to me that AI should be open and free for everyone. Maybe it's worth creating a certain censorship that will help prevent mistakes. But, a censorship will cause lots of problems, because it may ruin something useful.

Also, the author of AI can stop the censorship, that makes AI kinda different between the author and the user.

So, I think we should make AI with build-in censorship, that makes using it without censorship actually impossible.

That’s all.

Mirkin Alex
STEM-net Horizons Ambassador of Russia

Date: March 15, 2025

I think that if an AI tool with built-in censorship is to be used then we need to answer the following question: who will control it? In my opinion, it is better to be controlled by an independent body such as an AI Ethics Council (like the UN Human Rights Council but specifically focused on AI). Also, only the users (not the author!) should have the ability to apply various filters to this AI tool based on personal preferences (such as culture, religion etc).

A. Papadopoulos

Member of the Greek STEM-net Horizons Chapter

Date: March 19, 2025

From the technical point of view, we have also to think if the build-in censorship will be word-based or intention-based. If it is word-based then it may be relatively easy to avoid it! Intention-based censorship is much better and reliable, but its implementation is challenging!

C. Tsiligiris

Member of the Greek STEM-net Horizons Chapter

Date: March 25, 2025

The question that interested me the most was, "Where should we draw the line between human and machine intelligence?" Personally, I believe that the line between human and machine intelligence mainly lies in understanding, creativity, and self-awareness. While machines excel in works like processing lots of data and recognizing patterns easily, human intelligence is distinguished by emotions, intuition, consciousness, and the ability to derive meaning beyond logic. All in all, what I think is that the creativity of the human being, and sometimes its spontaneity, cannot at all, as for now, be copied by any AI machine.

E.S. Kyrinas,

Member of the Greek STEM-net Horizons Chapter

Date: March 26, 2025

It may be interesting to see what AI has to say about all this:

ChatGPT’s Answer:

These are all profound questions, and each touches on important ethical, societal, and technological concerns. Here's how I might think through each one:

1. How do we ensure that AI remains a tool for progress rather than a force for inequality?

To ensure AI remains a tool for progress and not a force for inequality, we must prioritize fairness, transparency, and accessibility in AI development. First, it's crucial to address biases in AI systems, whether they are introduced by biased data or biased algorithms, as these can exacerbate existing inequalities. Diverse teams working on AI and a focus on ensuring AI is used for public good, particularly in healthcare, education, and governance, can help reduce the risk of deepening divides. Additionally, policies that promote equitable access to AI technologies—so that its benefits are shared widely rather than concentrated in the hands of a few—will be essential. In short, continuous oversight, public awareness, and inclusive decision-making can ensure AI fosters progress while minimizing negative impacts on inequality.

2. What ethical responsibilities do scientists and engineers have when developing AI systems?

Scientists and engineers have an immense ethical responsibility when developing AI systems, as their creations can have significant impacts on individuals, communities, and society as a whole. They must strive to ensure the safety, fairness, and transparency of AI technologies. This means proactively working to eliminate biases, ensuring systems don't inadvertently harm vulnerable groups, and promoting ethical guidelines for development. They should also consider the long-term implications of AI, such as how it may affect employment or privacy, and weigh the potential benefits against the risks. It’s crucial for AI developers to be aware of the societal context in which their systems will be deployed and to work toward creating systems that benefit humanity as a whole rather than a select few.

3. Where should we draw the line between human and machine intelligence?

Drawing the line between human and machine intelligence is tricky, but it's important to acknowledge that AI, no matter how sophisticated, operates fundamentally differently from human cognition. AI systems, while powerful in specific domains (like pattern recognition or processing large datasets), do not have consciousness, emotions, or a sense of morality. They also lack the rich, nuanced understanding of the world that humans develop through lived experiences. The line between human and machine intelligence should be drawn not just in terms of capabilities but also in terms of ethical and emotional dimensions, recognizing that AI is a tool designed to assist human progress rather than replace human judgment or experience. The distinction is important to prevent dehumanization and ensure that we don’t over-rely on machines in areas requiring empathy, creativity, or moral reasoning.

Overall, these questions highlight the need for a balance between technological advancement and careful consideration of its social and ethical implications. Ensuring AI is a force for good requires an ongoing, collective effort.

Bakos Christos

President of STEM-net Horizons &

STEM-net Horizons Ambassador of Greece

Date: March 27, 2025

I believe that the following research article will help our community to gain a bird eye view of AI ethics. It offers a comprehensive overview of the AI ethics field, including a summary and analysis of AI ethical issues, ethical guidelines and principles, approaches to address AI ethical issues and methods to evaluate the ethics of AI technologies:

Changwu Huang et al. An Overview of Artificial Intelligence Ethics. IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 4, No. 4, August 2023.

You can find the full article in the following link:

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9844014

Alternatively, if you want to download more IEEE papers on this subject, follow the next steps:

Go to the STEM Open Access Services.
Select the IEEEXplore link.
Write the phrase “Artificial Intelligence and Ethics”.
Press Search.

It would be awesome if everyone, not just the Ambassadors but also the Chapter members, could download interesting journal papers from the STEM Open Access Services aiming at participating in a summer reading list and a virtual journal club.

Bakos Christos

President

Date: March 29, 2025

Where should we draw the line between human and machine intelligence?

It makes the most sense to draw the line in situations where moral judgment and human experiences are essential. Machines analyse data, recognise patterns and many other things but what they can't do is replicate understanding, emotions and human experiences. While AI can support us and enhance decision-making, it shouldn't replace human judgment in areas like ethics, relationships, and justice.

Ayush Shah

STEM-net Horizons Ambassador of Australia