The trolley problem and ethics of driverless cars - Newsnight

It may be that the AI robots of Hollywood are still very much in the realm of science fiction, but one automated machine which is just round the corner is the driverless car, and that development throws up a whole host of ethical issues. Here's our Technology Editor David Grossman.

[ThePeterDislikeShow]

Unfortunately, at the end of the day I think the decision will be financial. Google will probably develop software to estimate the liability of hitting each person based on appearance and decide accordingly.

[dlon]

As a black man, my life insurance policy has skyrocketed due to this information

[GoToGuy]

This is easy to solve. Have a switch in the car that each person can flip. one way for people in the car first then the other direction for saving others first. Then a light will go on on top of the car so everyone can see if you are compassionate of selfish

[urbanlife]

In the future wouldn't a driverless car have some sort of fail-safe system to prevent it from hitting someone altogether. It's a bit silly to apply the trolley problem to it. Unless you are seriously worried about driverless cars having ethical and philosophical dilemmas.

[dlon]

The toddler could grow up to be Thanos

[scottthewaterwarrior]

I figured out the solution to the trolley problem quite some time ago: Multi-Track Drifting!!!
Simply throw the switch after the first set of wheels goes over, then the front wheels go one way, the back goes another, and ALL the people die!

[chinmayamishra]

"a runaway train is about to .. anyone understand the word? Please help! 1:16

[naveednawwaf]

Make Seat belts emit UV rays so cars can understand from camera.

[Starbuck]

This guy's voice sounds a LOT like one of the narrators for the Fatboss Warcraft guides and it's throwing me off so bad lmao.

[ryadboukhari]

Sorry, but this experience isn't real, you give the importance for the number. For me, i'll choose the four persons because they have more chance to get out from this situation.

[kdhd]

Driverless cars not possible in India even in a million years

[aripocki]

The real answer is that cars' radars and computers are smart enough to avoid the accident altogether. They would never put themselves in a situation where an unexpected accident will happen, i.e. they will always keep a certain distance away from other cars so they can always stop and avoid any sudden motions in other cars. This is the answer you're looking for.

[Commievn]

I would hit the cat, and no, not because i hate cat (which i am anyways) but because cat is impossible to kill, they're so responsive and so agility, they're like ninja, they can just jump on my window, pee on it and jump away.

[nicoleleamoseman]

Avoid public transportation obviously they don't have their shit together

[TheSonic]

The problem I have is that computers aren't reliable. You put a computer in control of cars these are machines that kill people easiliy. What happens in the event the computer encounters some type of error on a 100% autonomous car? The driver can't do anything because well he's not the driver anymore. The car is just going to crash and nothing can be done to stop it. Is this really worth it? Human's and machines both make mistakes so why replace one with the other?

[khh]

What’s the fine to kill 5 civilians vs. 1 worker? J/k