From job applications to medical diagnoses, AI has become integral to man’s life, influencing major life choices. The rise of artificial intelligence has brought incredible advancements, but it has also raised ethical concerns. While AI continues to evolve, society must decide how much control it should have over important decisions. Trusting machines is not just about technology but ethics, responsibility, and the impact on human lives.
Understanding How AI Makes Decisions
Machines do not think like humans. Instead, they rely on algorithms and complex instructions to analyze data and predict outcomes. AI learns patterns from past data and applies them to make decisions. This process can be speedy and accurate, especially when dealing with numbers or large datasets.
One major issue is the quality of data fed into AI systems. If the data contains biases or errors, AI will learn and repeat those mistakes. This has been seen in hiring systems, where AI has unintentionally favored specific candidates based on gender or race due to biased training data. While AI can process vast amounts of information, it does not have personal judgment or ethical reasoning.
The Risk of Bias and Unfair Judgments
Although AI is designed to be neutral, it can still develop biases based on the data it learns from. In some cases, AI decision-making has led to discrimination, making it difficult for people to access jobs, loans, or medical treatment. If an AI system is trained on historical data favoring one group over another, that pattern will continue, even if it is unfair.
Many experts argue that machines cannot be fully trusted to make fair decisions without human oversight. AI lacks real-world understanding, which means it cannot always consider context. A human judge, for example, may consider personal circumstances when deciding a case, but AI only follows data and rules. This limitation makes it risky to let AI operate without human supervision, especially in areas where fairness is critical.
The Question of Responsibility: Who Is Accountable?
When a machine makes a wrong decision, who is to blame? Unlike humans, AI does not have a sense of responsibility. If an AI system denies someone medical treatment or wrongly predicts a criminal’s risk level, the consequences can be severe. The question of accountability is a primary ethical concern.
Sutherland and other organizations working with AI believe that human oversight is essential. Machines should assist in decision-making rather than replace human judgment. AI can provide recommendations, but the final choice should remain in human hands, ensuring that ethical concerns are addressed.
Balancing AI’s Potential with Ethical Control
Despite its limitations, AI has the potential to improve lives. It can analyze diseases faster than doctors, predict financial risks, and even help combat climate change. However, the key is responsible use. Instead of allowing AI to make final decisions, it should be used as a tool to support human decision-makers.
Governments and organizations are working on regulations to ensure AI remains fair and accountable. Transparency is crucial—people should understand how AI makes decisions and can challenge them if necessary.
Can AI Be Trusted?
The answer is not simple. While artificial intelligence can be compelling, it is not perfect. It lacks emotions, moral understanding, and the ability to grasp human complexities fully. While AI can assist in decision-making, humans must remain in control. The future of AI depends on responsible development, ethical guidelines, and ongoing human oversight. Trusting machines is possible, but only when they serve as tools rather than decision-makers.
