‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Who should be held accountable when an AI Agent (accidentally) acts maliciously?

37 points · 99 comments · Greenpants

  1. CatDaaaady · · focus · HN ↗
    I don't see how this is such an unclear legal question. If I fire a computer program that mistakenly causes another person harm, its my fault. Or it would be the maker of the program's fault. I feel we have established pattern for this already.

    Until we can agree whether AI is conscious, which we never will, AI and AI agents are just property working on behalf of humans.

    I could see a future where AI companies/services indemnify consumers who use their agents but _not_ indemnify corporations that use their services.

    1. trescenzi · · focus · HN ↗
      It shouldn’t be a question but this is where the anthropomorphic language and things like “agent welfare” come in to enable responsibility laundering of some of the most powerful people on earth. How we talk about these models matters because it impacts the public’s understanding of what they are genuinely capable of. The more that they are described as having anything close to free will the easier it is to even ask questions like this.
      1. 112233 · · focus · HN ↗
        Was not groundwork laid when people were talking for decades about legal entities using such language? Look at the posts here. Microsoft always acts like that, Meta like this, Apple did that, Nvidia never does this. In a tone that ascribes agency and accountability to a company name. Even though it is always individuals that are responsible, not "company".

        Well, here we are.

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.