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Beneficence in the context of AI Ethics and Law refers to the ethical principle of promoting good and contributing positively to human well-being through the development and use of artificial intelligence technologies. While frequently mentioned in ethical discussions, beneficence is often not precisely defined. Notable interpretations include enhancing human senses, promoting human flourishing, achieving peace and happiness, creating socio-economic opportunities, and fostering economic prosperity.
There is some uncertainty about who should benefit from AI. Private sector entities tend to highlight benefits for their customers, whereas many ethical guidelines advocate for AI to be shared widely and to benefit everyone—encompassing humanity, society, as many people as possible, all sentient creatures, the planet, and the environment. The overarching idea is that AI should serve the common good rather than a select few.
Strategies to promote beneficence in AI involve aligning AI systems with human values and advancing scientific understanding of the world. This includes minimizing the concentration of power or using power to benefit human rights, working closely with people affected by AI technologies, and minimizing conflicts of interest. Demonstrating beneficence can also be achieved through customer demand and feedback, as well as developing new metrics and measurements for human well-being.
By emphasizing beneficence, stakeholders aim to ensure that AI technologies contribute positively to society, enhance human capabilities, and promote overall happiness and prosperity. This principle encourages the ethical development and deployment of AI, prioritizing the well-being of all over individual or corporate interests.
Reference
Jobin, Anna, Marcello Ienca, and Effy Vayena. "The Global Landscape of AI Ethics Guidelines." Nature Machine Intelligence 1 (2019): 389–399.
