Ethics in German AI Start-Ups

Abstract

Successful implementations of AI ethics are strategically embedded into any given cultural context. Yet, there is little knowledge on the cultural dimension of AI ethics, especially in the context of often highly capitalized start-ups. This report addresses that issue. It presents empirical data from a three-year study on how AI start-ups in Europe’s largest economy – Germany – conceive of and operationalize ethics. Six principles guide the collective behavior around AI ethics in German AI start-ups: Mitbestimmung (co-determination), Verantwortung (responsibility), Ehrlichkeit (honesty), Aufklärung (education), Ordnung (order), and Miteinander (being-together).

Keywords: artificial intelligence, ethics, start-ups, culture, Germany