GS4 · UPSC Mains

AquaTech is a government defence contracting firm specialising in manufacturing robotic systems for police and military use. It is known for producing bomb-defusing robots and working on other classified projects. One critical project involved developing a robot capable of sweeping minefields and detecting hidden explosives. The project had a stringent seven-month deadline to produce a working prototype for a demonstration to top defence ministry officials. The project encountered delays due to staff shortages and other unforeseen issues, resulting in a two-week lag. As the deadline loomed, the project leader pressured the team to work extended hours with minimal rest. Despite these challenges, the team managed to complete the prototype on time for the demonstration. During the demonstration, the robot was deployed in an active minefield to detect mines and mark them with a spray. Initially, the robot performed as expected, identifying mines. However, instead of marking the sites, it triggered explosions, causing fatal injuries to the operating engineer. The demonstration was immediately halted, and an inquiry was launched. The investigation revealed that a software flaw caused the malfunction, leading to the tragic accident. The software development team argued that the operator issued mixed commands, which contributed to the malfunction. Overall, each team kept deflecting responsibility, but somebody or a team had to be made accountable for the fatal errors. (a) If you are the ethics officer of AquaTech enquiring, who will you hold responsible for the fatality? Why? (b) Discuss some common ethical issues that arise while using artificial intelligence. (Answer in 250 words)

20 marks · 250 words · 9 toppers answered this

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