Artificial Intelligence Ethics Taxonomy - Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as Business Case

Special Issue ‘Artificial Intelligence& Ethics’ European Scientific Journal 2021

20 Pages Posted: 4 May 2021

See all articles by Dirk Beerbaum

Dirk Beerbaum

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management; Aalto University - Department of Accounting and Finance; Aalto University - School of Business

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Date Written: April 26, 2021

Abstract

A Robotic Process Automation (RPA) enabled by Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important field within the digitalisation of the economy. AI-driven robots and machines are forecasted to grow dramatically in the next years. AI-enabled RPA replaces the work a human would normally do by mimicking interactions with applications and provides direct access to systems using APIs. RPA has superior advantages versus human execution:24x7 execution, eternal lifetime and scalability. Process automatization is per se not a brand-new technology, however due to notable progress in AI, which RPAleverages, it has become an own solution category. RPA enables algorithmic rules without being biased.

Ethical considerations intend to make AI-driven RPA more human and introduce morality into the machine learning. The Uber-Waymo trial made transparent how much AI development is influenced by human irrationality and irrational exuberances. It reveals a culture of agile software development, which prioritize releasing the latest software over testing and verification, and one that encourages shortcuts and irrationality. This also give proof that applying AI cannot ensure that irrational exuberances disappear. The reason for this irrational exuberance may have its roots in the exponential growth in computing and storage

technologies predicted by Gordon Moore five decades ago. This paper develops a concept how irrational exuberances with the business case of RPA can be prevented from happening. One general approach for solutioning of the issue is to increase transparency. The paper recommends applying technology to make data more accessible and more readable on the application of artificial intelligence. With the aim of application of “transparency technology XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)” is incorporated. XBRL is part of the choice architecture on regulation by governments (Sunstein, 2013). XBRL is connected to a taxonomy. The paper develops a taxonomy for RPA to make application of artificial intelligence more transparent to the public and incorporates ethical considerations. As a business case the strongly growing RPA industry is selected. The paper focus on the way to enhance AI that aligns with human values. How can incentive be provided that AI systems themselves do not become potential objects of moral concern. The main outcome of the paper is that AI-enabled RPA reveal moral concerns however transparency technologies at the same time also offer way to mitigate such risks.

Suggested Citation

Beerbaum Dr., Dirk, Artificial Intelligence Ethics Taxonomy - Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as Business Case (April 26, 2021). Special Issue ‘Artificial Intelligence& Ethics’ European Scientific Journal 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3834361 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3834361

Dirk Beerbaum Dr. (Contact Author)

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management ( email )

Adickesallee 32-34
Frankfurt am Main, 60322
Germany

Aalto University - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

P.O. Box 1210
Helsinki, 00100
Finland

Aalto University - School of Business ( email )

Finland

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