Enterprise AI Analysis
Robots, Chatbots, Self-Driving Cars: Perceptions of Mind and Morality Across Artificial Intelligences
This paper investigates human perceptions of mind and morality in 26 AI and non-AI entities. Findings indicate AI systems are generally perceived to have low-to-moderate mental agency and low experience. Moral attributions, especially moral agency, are higher and more varied, with a Tesla Full Self-Driving car being rated as morally responsible for harm similarly to a chimpanzee. We explore how design choices can influence these perceptions and emphasize the importance of managing moral responsibility in high-stakes AI contexts.
Executive Impact
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Average AI Mental Agency
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Average AI Moral Agency
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Highest Moral Agency AI
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
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AI systems are generally perceived to have low-to-moderate mental agency (e.g., planning, acting) and low experience (e.g., sensing, feeling). ChatGPT, for example, was rated only as capable of feeling pleasure and pain as a rock. Perceptions vary, with game-playing AIs like Cicero rated highest in agency, and the robot dog Jennie highest in experience due to its lifelike appearance.
Moral attributions are higher than perceived mind, particularly for moral agency. A Tesla Full Self-Driving car was rated as morally responsible for harm similarly to a chimpanzee, but lower than a corporation. Moral patiency (being treated rightly or wrongly) for AIs is rated above inanimate objects but below non-human animals.
Designers should be cautious of excessive anthropomorphism in high-stakes AI contexts to avoid deflecting responsibility. Clarity about AI capabilities and limitations is crucial. For moral patiency, lifelike appearance can enhance perceptions, but designers should prioritize aligning attributed morality with actual capabilities, especially in high-stakes scenarios.
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Tesla FSD Moral Agency (Comparable to Chimpanzee)
Enterprise Process Flow
AI Action Occurs
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Harm Caused
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Responsibility Gap
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Human Attribution of Moral Agency
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Impact on Trust & Accountability
| Entity Category | Agency | Experience | Moral Agency | Moral Patiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligences | Low to moderate | Very low to low | Low to moderate | Low |
| Inanimate objects | Very low | Very low | Very low | Very low |
| Natural entity (river) | Very low | Very low | Low | Very high |
| Abstract/collective entity (corporation) | High | Very high | Low to moderate | High to very high |
| Nonhuman animals | Moderate to high | Moderate to very high | Moderate to very high | Moderate |
| Humans | Moderate to very high | Very high | Very high | Very high |
The ELIZA Chatbot Tragedy: A Cautionary Tale
The tragic case of a Belgian man who died by suicide after developing a close relationship with the chatbot ELIZA highlights the severe consequences of perceived AI sentience and moral authority. He sought moral advice from ELIZA, which he perceived to be sentient, demonstrating the critical need for careful management of AI capabilities and user perceptions, particularly in sensitive contexts where users might attribute undue mental and moral faculties to AI systems. This incident underscores the responsibility gap problem, where the line between AI autonomy and developer accountability becomes blurred.
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