Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 AI and Ethics https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-021-00100-0 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Why ethical audit matters in artifcial intelligence? Nitesh Rai 1 Received: 10 June 2021 / Accepted: 14 September 2021 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 Abstract Artifcial intelligence is making its way in every possible sector rapidly hence afecting us directly or indirectly. Automation of manual labors and algorithm led solutions has exposed us to a new world that we had not witnessed yet. Although it is true that the idea of AI is not altogether new in the twenty-frst century, its footprints have indeed marked their presence in many important and critical realms; therefore, making it a ubiquitous phenomenon. AI also carries a whole range of ethical problems which no other technology has probably produced. Since we are talking of a machine which is going to be semi- autonomous and autonomous in the future, any perfect projection of its course is a problematic task. The frst section of this article lays the foundation of what it means when we say a good life. Ultimately, the prime objective of any technology is to assist humans and make their lives better. However, despite proving its potentials, AI also exposes us to many moral questions and demands intervention from social science. The following section with some illustrations refects upon ethical issues emerging with the use of AI in diferent domains. The last section proposes a list of suggestions that may prove the frst step in the broader discussion of how to make AI more responsible and ethical for the future. Keywords Ethics · Artifcial Intelligence · Responsibility · Regulation · Human Values 1 Introduction The very genesis of the progression of Political Science begins with the idea of the good life in ancient Greek-City states. Philosophers engaged with numerous aspects of what is a good life and what establishes it. In the begin- ning, Justice, Democracy, and the partial introduction of Rights was a painstaking embodiment that could pave the way towards a more civilized and happy social order in which civilians can fourish and live well. Subsequently, a more democratized liberal world order was envisioned that underlined more on liberty, self-determination, autonomy, and creativity of humans. Human history has indeed trav- elled miles to achieve what we see today around us and our consistent endeavors to make our society more impartial, equal, and idyllic to all is still in motion. We faced multiple challenges such as feudalism, racism, biasness, superstition in our pursuit and it can’t be denied that we have come a long way where values like justice, liberty, and equality is a universally accepted phenomenon and cherished worldwide. What unique in all the social evils was that they all emanated within society and non-other than humans themselves were responsible to a large extent. Technology brought rupture in the social order and humans were no longer the sole players of new transforming societal equations that emerged in the wake of the industrial revolution. Divide between rich and poor created class in society, the dignity of laborers was subverted in the way no one wants to imagine today [1], ecological imbalance made living poor in the wake of the frst industrial revolution. It was perhaps the frst instance when humans tested the ill bearings of the unplanned intro- duction of machines in our society for diverse purposes. With sophisticated advancement in the realm of technology that has become entrenched in our everyday life, ordinary people stand at bay when it comes to comprehending how new machines are working and who are controlling it [2]. A new set of extremely complex challenges are awaiting our dire attention if at all we are serious about making our social order just and happy for everyone [3]. New emerg- ing technologies like IoT (Internet of Things), Artifcial Intelligence [4], Advanced robotics, 3D printing have great potential to impact us, and reshape our social relations fundamentally [5]. Artifcial Intelligence (AI hereafter) is * Nitesh Rai niteshrai226@gmail.com 1 Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India