Study Claims Self-Driving Cars Can Learn Ethics And Morality

Humanity often displays arrogance in the face of other species due to the belief that only humans know what ethics and morality are. However, a new study suggests that this might not be the case as even self-driving cars can be taught to take ethics into consideration. This would be a huge asset in the self-driving scene as it would result in better driving conditions if applied correctly.

The very concept of a machine understanding the concept of morality and ethics has been in the realm of science fiction for decades. As such, it’s really no surprise that some scientists would like for self-driving cars to be capable of such things as well, especially given their role in everyday life. According to the study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, this might just be doable.

Titled “Using Virtual Reality to Assess Ethical Decisions in Road Traffic Scenarios: Applicability of Value-of-Life-Based Models and Influences of Time Pressure,” the paper is the work of researchers from the University of Osnabrück’s Institute of Cognitive Science. According to the paper, the system behind the concept of ethics is already being employed by cars every day. Now, it’s just a matter of putting more emphasis in certain parts.

“Previous research has shown that moral judgment and behavior are highly context-dependent, and comprehensive and nuanced models of the underlying cognitive processes are out of reach to date. Models of ethics for self-driving cars should thus aim to match human decisions made in the same context,” the paper reads.

The study involved putting 105 subjects through a virtual reality simulation, Futurism reports, which inevitably involved plenty of the same drama that is seen on roads. Based on the data, the scientists came to a “value-of-life-based model” that is meant to be the framework of this whole ethics programming for vehicles.