Human rights and ethical dilemmas in the use of autonomous vehicles

Abstract

In recent years we have witnessed a rapid development of artificial intelligence, which is applied to a multitude of occasions and technologies. The benefits of this technological innovation are undeniable: it can help us in decision making, it interprets our tastes and preferences and adjusts the results accordingly when we search for a certain good or object in digital search engines, and now it assists the task of driving, evolving to a level where the existence of a driver may not even be necessary anymore. This will only be possible with highly complex algorithms capable of making decisions and replacing the driver. But how are these algorithms created? Could they in any way affect the fundamental rights or ethical values by which we abide? And by what principles or ethical values should we program the algorithms applicable to autonomous driving? Could or should there be some figure responsible for ensuring that the development, implementation , and use of artificial intelligence, especially in the use of autonomous vehicles, respects fundamental rights and basic ethical principles?

Keywords: Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, ethics, fundamental rights.