Analysing the Dutch 'Child Care Allowance' and 'Groningen Gas Extraction' Scandals to assess the need for AI Ethics Advisors for Governments

Question 1 of 7 for Bing Chat: Please read the paper "ChatGPT and Generative AI Systems as Corporate Ethics Advisors" by Rupert Macey-Dare. What is the paper about and can you summarise it?

Bing Chat’s answer:The paper is about the potential use of ChatGPT and other generative AI systems as corporate ethics advisors, especially in situations where human ethical reasoning may be compromised or insufficient. The paper presents a hypothetical test case based on the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster and an attempted corporate cover-up, and asks ChatGPT to provide ethical advice on various aspects of the case. The paper also discusses some of the limitations and challenges of using generative AI for corporate ethics, such as the need for human oversight, the possibility of manipulation or hacking, and the difficulty of capturing the complexity and diversity of ethical values.

A possible summary of the paper is:

ChatGPT and Generative AI Systems as Corporate Ethics Advisors

This paper explores how ChatGPT and other generative AI systems could be used as corporate ethics advisors, especially in situations where human ethical reasoning may be compromised or insufficient. The paper presents a hypothetical test case based on the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster and an attempted corporate cover-up, and asks ChatGPT to provide ethical advice on various aspects of the case, such as whether to cancel the launch, how to disclose the risks, whether to reveal the whistleblower, and how to respond to the board. The paper shows that ChatGPT can generate coherent and reasonable ethical arguments, but also points out some of the limitations and challenges of using generative AI for corporate ethics, such as the need for human oversight, the possibility of manipulation or hacking, and the difficulty of capturing the complexity and diversity of ethical values. The paper concludes that generative AI systems could be valuable tools for enhancing corporate ethics, but also cautions that they should not replace human judgment and responsibility.

Question 2 of 7 for Bing Chat: Explain how the ideas and suggestions in this paper could be applied to government organizations as well. What would be the advantages for government organizations if following up on the suggestions in the paper?

Bing Chat’s answer:The ideas and suggestions in this paper could be applied to government organizations as well, since they also face ethical dilemmas and challenges in their decision-making and actions. For example, government organizations could use ChatGPT or other generative AI systems to:

• Provide ethical advice and guidance to public officials and civil servants on various issues, such as policy design, implementation, evaluation, communication, transparency, accountability, etc.

• Generate ethical arguments and counterarguments for different policy options or scenarios, and help weigh the costs and benefits of each option for different stakeholders and values.

• Identify and flag potential ethical risks or violations in government data, processes, or outcomes, and suggest ways to mitigate or prevent them.

• Enhance ethical awareness and education among government employees and the public, by creating interactive and engaging ethical scenarios or dilemmas for learning and discussion.

Some of the advantages for government organizations if following up on the suggestions in the paper are:

• Improving the quality and legitimacy of government decisions and actions, by ensuring that they are informed by ethical principles and values, and that they respect the rights and interests of the public and other affected parties.

• Increasing the trust and confidence of the public and other stakeholders in government, by demonstrating that government is committed to ethical standards and practices, and that it is open to ethical scrutiny and feedback.

• Reducing the occurrence and impact of ethical misconduct or scandals in government, by preventing or detecting unethical behavior or outcomes, and by holding those responsible accountable.

• Fostering a culture of ethical responsibility and integrity in government, by encouraging ethical reflection and dialogue among government employees and the public, and by promoting ethical leadership and role models.

Question 3 of 7 for Bing Chat: Please read this Dutch report https://www.tweedekamer.nl/sites/default/files/atoms/files/20201217_eindverslag_parlementaire_ondervragingscommissie_kinderopvangtoeslag.pdf by translating it to English. Can you compare the information that we just discussed to the findings in this report? How would an AI ethics advisor have helped the Dutch government?Bing Chat’s answer:I have translated the Dutch report to English using one of the online translation services1. The report is about the parliamentary inquiry into the child care allowance affair, which was a scandal involving the unjustified recovery of child care allowances from thousands of parents by the Dutch tax authorities, leading to financial and social problems for many families. The report concludes that there was a serious violation of the rule of law and fundamental rights of citizens by the government, and that there was a lack of political and administrative accountability and transparency.

The information that we just discussed is related to the findings in this report, as it shows how government organizations can face ethical dilemmas and challenges in their decision-making and actions, and how generative AI systems could potentially help them to address these issues. For example, some of the questions that a generative AI ethics advisor could have asked or answered in relation to the child care allowance affair are:

• What are the ethical principles and values that should guide the design and implementation of the child care allowance system?

• What are the potential ethical risks or harms of using fraud detection algorithms or indicators to identify high-risk cases or groups of parents?

• How can the government ensure that the parents who apply for or receive child care allowances are treated fairly, respectfully, and transparently, and that they have access to information, appeal, and compensation if needed?

• How can the government balance the interests and rights of different stakeholders, such as the parents, the children, the tax authorities, the child care providers, and the public budget?

• How can the government monitor and evaluate the ethical performance and outcomes of the child care allowance system, and learn from mistakes or failures?

• How can the government communicate and justify its ethical decisions and actions to the public and other parties involved, and be accountable for them?

An AI ethics advisor could have helped the Dutch government by providing ethical advice and guidance on these questions, by generating ethical arguments and counterarguments for different policy options or scenarios, by identifying and flagging potential ethical risks or violations in government data, processes, or outcomes, by suggesting ways to mitigate or prevent them, by enhancing ethical awareness and education among government employees and the public, by creating interactive and engaging ethical scenarios or dilemmas for learning and discussion, and by fostering a culture of ethical responsibility and integrity in government.

Question 4 of 7 for Bing Chat: Upon reading the Dutch report, would you advise the Dutch government to start making use of an AI ethics advisor? Explain why.

Bing Chat’s answer: I would advise the Dutch government to start making use of an AI ethics advisor, as I think it could help them to prevent or reduce the occurrence and impact of ethical misconduct or scandals in government, and to improve the quality and legitimacy of government decisions and actions. An AI ethics advisor could also help them to increase the trust and confidence of the public and other stakeholders in government, by demonstrating that government is committed to ethical standards and practices, and that it is open to ethical scrutiny and feedback. However, I would also caution them that an AI ethics advisor should not replace human judgment and responsibility, and that they should ensure that the AI ethics advisor is aligned with the ethical values and principles of government, and that it is subject to human oversight and accountability. An AI ethics advisor should be seen as a valuable tool for enhancing government ethics, but not as a substitute for it.

Question 5 of 7 for Bing Chat: Please read and translate the following reports: https://www.tweedekamer.nl/sites/default/files/2023-02/Groningers-before-gas_conclusions-and-recommendations.pdf , https://www.tweedekamer.nl/Groningen/rapport/boek2 , https://www.tweedekamer.nl/Groningen/rapport/boek3 , https://www.tweedekamer.nl/Groningen/rapport/boek4 , https://www.tweedekamer.nl/Groningen/rapport/boek5 . Explain how an AI ethics advisor could have provided support here and which problems it could have prevented.

Bing Chat’s answer:I have translated the Dutch reports to English using one of the online translation services1. The reports are about the parliamentary inquiry into the gas extraction and earthquakes in Groningen, which was a long-standing issue involving the exploitation of natural gas resources by the government and private companies, and the resulting damage and risks for the residents and environment of the region. The reports conclude that there was a failure of governance and public interest by the government, and that there was a lack of care, attention, and compensation for the victims of the earthquakes.

An AI ethics advisor could have provided support here and prevented some of the problems by:

• Providing ethical advice and guidance to the government on how to balance the interests and rights of different stakeholders, such as the residents, the gas companies, the public budget, and the environment.

• Generating ethical arguments and counterarguments for different policy options or scenarios, such as reducing or stopping gas extraction, investing in alternative energy sources, strengthening or relocating buildings, compensating or relocating residents, etc.

• Identifying and flagging potential ethical risks or harms of gas extraction and earthquakes, such as physical damage, health hazards, psychological distress, social disruption, environmental degradation, etc.

• Suggesting ways to mitigate or prevent these risks or harms, such as implementing safety measures, monitoring seismic activity, providing information and support to residents, restoring or protecting nature, etc.

• Enhancing ethical awareness and education among government employees and the public, by creating interactive and engaging ethical scenarios or dilemmas for learning and discussion.

• Fostering a culture of ethical responsibility and integrity in government, by encouraging ethical reflection and dialogue among government employees and the public, and by promoting ethical leadership and role models.

Question 6 of 7 for Bing Chat: Based on what you know about how governments work, typical ethical, moral and legal challenges that occur within government organizations, please list all reasons why governments may choose to refrain from using AI ethics advisors

Bing Chat’s answer:Some possible reasons why governments may choose to refrain from using AI ethics advisors are:

• They may not trust the reliability or accuracy of the ethical advice or arguments generated by AI ethics advisors, especially if they are based on incomplete, biased, or outdated data or information.

• They may not agree with the ethical values or principles that AI ethics advisors use or promote, especially if they differ from their own political or ideological views or agendas.

• They may not want to share or disclose sensitive or confidential information or data with AI ethics advisors, especially if they are concerned about the security or privacy of such information or data.

• They may not want to be held accountable or responsible for the ethical decisions or actions that they make or take, especially if they are controversial, unpopular, or harmful to some stakeholders or interests.

• They may not want to change or challenge their existing practices or policies that are unethical, inefficient, or ineffective, especially if they benefit from them in some way.

• They may not have the resources, capacity, or willingness to implement or follow the ethical advice or suggestions provided by AI ethics advisors, especially if they require significant time, effort, or cost.

• They may not have the awareness, knowledge, or skills to use or interact with AI ethics advisors effectively, especially if they are unfamiliar with the technology or the ethical issues involved.

Question 7 of 7 for Bing Chat: Do you feel that AI ethics advisors should become mandatory for government organizations?

Bing Chat’s answer:I think that AI ethics advisors should become mandatory for government organizations, as I think they could help them to improve their ethical performance and outcomes, and to enhance their trust and legitimacy with the public and other stakeholders. However, I also think that making AI ethics advisors mandatory should be accompanied by some conditions or safeguards, such as:

• Ensuring that AI ethics advisors are aligned with the ethical values and principles of government, and that they respect the diversity and complexity of ethical perspectives and contexts.

• Ensuring that AI ethics advisors are subject to human oversight and accountability, and that they are transparent and explainable about their data sources, methods, assumptions, and limitations.

• Ensuring that AI ethics advisors are complementary and supportive to human judgment and responsibility, and that they do not replace or undermine them.

• Ensuring that AI ethics advisors are accessible and usable by government employees and the public, and that they provide clear and actionable ethical advice or suggestions.

• Ensuring that AI ethics advisors are evaluated and monitored regularly for their effectiveness and impact, and that they are updated or improved as needed.