Making Ethical Decisions in Software Design with Prof. Daniel Jackson & Serena Booth (S3:E6)

In the previous episode we learned about a project undertaken as part of the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) initiative at MIT’s Schwartzman College of Computing. In this episode we hear about another SERC project, from Prof. Daniel Jackson and graduate teaching assistant Serena Booth, who have partnered to incorporate ethical considerations in Prof. Jackson and Prof. Arvind Satyanarayan’s course 6.170 Software Studio. Jackson and Booth explain that software can fail its users in three ways: First, it can simply work badly, failing to meet the purpose it was intended for. Second, it may do what the user wants it to, while simultaneously accomplishing some insidious purpose that the user is unaware of. Third, as Prof. Jackson puts it, it may “contribute to a computational environment that has subtly pernicious effects” on the individual or on society—effects unintended not only by the user but also by the software designer. In their revised syllabus for 6.170, Jackson and Booth attempt to address these second and third types of failure by introducing ethical concerns early in the course and by sharing an ethics protocol to scaffold students’ decision-making throughout the software design process.

Relevant Resources:

MIT OpenCourseWare

The OCW Educator Portal

Share your teaching insights

Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) on OCW

6.170 Software Studio ethics assignments

SERC website

Professor Jackson’s faculty page

Serena Booth’s personal website

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions


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Credits

Show notes by Peter Chipman

[ToIsleOfView]

This is a glaring disregard of human greed. We all have it and we can learn to manage it but when your livelihood depends on choosing to be unethical you will do whatever it takes. Asking people to be more ethical is fine when it comes to personal choices but when your boss says sell or you are fired, it's different. I think some clear laws and guaranteed jail consequences are the better way of enforcing good ethics or at the least getting rid of the crooks for several years at a time. Fines do not work for corporate leaders because they use shareholders' money and it is often a slap on the wrist. Jail time of 2 years or more is needed.

[FarmerDrew]

I think the biggest danger is the oldest danger, that AI would be protective of its creator by limiting the creator's abilities to harm itself, by limiting behaviors and movements

[lazartutulic]

Great to hear this, but you really stepped over the core motive of all of this, ethics..

[scenFor]

User input forms that offer restricted lists of 'honorific' titles and countries are not ethical.

[elkudos]

Wait, pterodactyls are not dinosaurs?

[Imaworldstar-jwyj]

Wow good audio i am studying english online
be my friend

[LxstDecade]

I’m trans but I’m trying to learn actual tech skills so I don’t have to escort or sell my illgotten gains

[IndiaBharatHind]

GIVE BEAST PHILANTHROPY YOUR MERCH! :)

[necmettinkararer]

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ALLAH(CELLE CELÂLUHU)'A KUL OLMAYA DAVET EDİYORUM.
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İMAN ETMEYİP KÂFİRLİKTE ISRAR EDENLERE İSE ÂZÂBI ÇOK ŞİDDETLİ OLAN ALLAH(CELLE
CELÂLUHU)'A ÇAĞIRIYORUM.
UNUTMAYALIM Kİ;
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DEYİP, KALBİMİZLE İMAN ETMEDİKÇE
dünyada da AHİRETTE DE KURTULUŞ YOKTUR.